Title: Steph Curry Endorses Knicks’ Signing of Donte DiVincenzo, Calls Him a Valuable Addition
Date: [Current Date]
In a recent interview, two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry expressed his approval of the New York Knicks’ decision to sign Donte DiVincenzo. The Golden State Warriors star praised DiVincenzo for being a team player and bringing great energy to the locker room.
“He’s all about basketball, he’s all about winning. He brings great energy to the locker room,” Curry said. “He plays way beyond his years. He’s good on both sides of the ball, he can play-make better than most people probably realize. So he fills a lot of holes on a team.”
Last season, DiVincenzo showcased his skills on the court, averaging 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in just 26 minutes of play. He also impressed with his three-point shooting, hitting 39.7 percent of his attempts, trailing only Curry and Klay Thompson in that category.
The Knicks had targeted DiVincenzo early in the offseason, and they signed him to a four-year $50 million deal on the second day of free agency. This move reunited him with his Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
Curry acknowledged that he understood DiVincenzo’s decision to leave Golden State for the opportunity to play a larger role in New York. “He’s not selfish in the respect of – I know he wants to start and be that guy – but he also understands where value can be created on a team no matter what the role you’re asked to do is,” Curry commented. “He bought in right away and he got rewarded for it.”
Having spoken to DiVincenzo during the 2022 offseason, Curry expressed his faith in the 26-year-old’s ability to contribute to winning teams. He also commended the Knicks for recognizing DiVincenzo’s worth and ensuring he received his fair share of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
In other news, Curry is currently listed as a 12-1 favorite at the American Century Championship, a charity tournament featuring celebrities. The event aims to raise $7 million for various charitable causes and includes participants such as Dell Curry, Charles Barkley, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and John Elway, all competing for $600,000 in prize money.
Looking ahead, the New York Knicks still have some salary cap space available after the DiVincenzo signing. With approximately $750,000 of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception remaining, the team has options to sign players through veteran’s minimum exceptions or biannual exceptions.
Although the Knicks must be mindful of the luxury tax threshold, which stands at $165 million, there doesn’t seem to be a directive from Knicks governor James Dolan to stay under the tax. However, the team cannot exceed $172 million in team salary after utilizing its mid-level exception on DiVincenzo.
Additionally, the Knicks are exploring potential moves, including a potential trade of Evan Fournier and an extension for Josh Hart. The team places a high value on Fournier’s contract, which extends to 2023-24, with a team option for 2024-25. Hart is eligible for a contract extension of up to four years and around $81 million, likely below the maximum salary.
As the offseason progresses, fans and analysts await further developments in the Knicks’ roster as they aim to strengthen their team for the upcoming NBA season.