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The New York Knicks are looking to bolster their roster after losing in the second round of the playoffs to the Miami Heat last season. Although the Heat’s unlikely run came as a surprise to much of the NBA, Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau is keen not to fall into the same position next season.
As a result, the team is reportedly eyeing Donte DiVincenzo, who has a mutual interest in joining the Knicks. A major factor that could play into DiVincenzo’s decision is fellow Villanova alum Josh Hart, who is facing a player option.
Although the expectation was that Hart would withdraw from his deal before he reached free agency, he and the Knicks extended the deadline for his decision. Given that, it seems as if the team is working behind the scenes in order to entice him into signing up for his $13 million deal.
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As for DiVincenzo, Hart wouldn’t be the only Villanova alumnus to join him in New York. Jalen Bronson, who has proven he has what it takes to be the team’s first choice, is also playing under Coach Thibodeau.
According to reports from SNY, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons all find themselves vying for DiVincenzo. Since the 2021 NBA champ pulled out of his contract at Golden State, there has been a lot of buzz around the league.
Looking at Donte DiVincenzo’s stats with the Warriors and how he can help the Knicks
Last season, Donte DiVincenzo saw his production drop slightly during his first season with the Warriors. After being traded to the Sacramento Kings in February of 2022 in a deal that saw Serge Ibaka landed in Milwaukee, Divincenzo then signed a two-year deal with the Warriors last season.
At Golden State, he started in 36 games for the franchise, while appearing in a total of 72 games during the 2022-23 season. During that time, he averaged 26.3 minutes per game, a similar number to his previous years with the Bucks.
Despite seeing his average points per game drop to 9.4ppg, DiVincenzo made the most of his opportunities, averaging a career high of 39.7% from outside the arc.
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An impressive 3D player, DiVincenzo made a huge impact on the Warriors, even if the team failed in their quest for back-to-back titles. Back in March, Steve Kerr spoke on the record with NBC Sports where he said the team desperately wants to keep DiVincenzo:
“The whole idea was to rebuild his place in the league. He had a great start in Milwaukee and then injuries the last couple of years took him back. This year has been very successful for Donte, re-establishing his place in the league, re-establishing his value. Hope we can keep it.
“We really want to keep him. I always want our players to be in the best possible position going forward. I’m very happy for Donte because he’s put himself in a good place.”
Given his success in Golden State, it’s no wonder the Knicks wanted to sign him.
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