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Knicks rumors: Free agent Willie Reed drawing interest from New York

By Kenneth Teape

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Willie Reed #35 of the LA Clippers warms up before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on January 28, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Willie Reed #35 of the LA Clippers warms up before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on January 28, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Recent New York Knicks rumors in free agency involve center Willie Reed, whose representatives have been in talks with New York.

New York Knicks rumors have been relatively quiet this offseason. New York doesn’t have much cap space, as they were armed with their mid-level exception, bi-annual exception and minimum contracts.

They wasted no time using a majority of their mid-level exception. The Knicks agreed to a deal with forward Mario Hezonja. New York signed Hezonja away from the Orlando Magic, agreeing to a one-year, $6.5 million deal.

That is probably the biggest move that the Knicks will make this offseason. Being cash-strapped and with a nearly full roster, New York doesn’t have many avenues outside of a trade to make changes to the roster.

However, if the Knicks are going to make any deals, one player to keep an eye on is Willie Reed. People within the organization have been in contact with Reed’s agent during free agency.

Ian Begley of ESPN New York shared the news. He also added that it is unclear if the Knicks had, or still have, interest in signing Reed.

Currently, the Knicks have 16 players on the roster. They are going to have to cut one person from the roster before opening night to get to the maximum of 15 allowed. If they sign Reed, they would need to then open up two roster spots.

While nothing has been decided yet, Knicks general manager Scott Perry said the team is keeping their options open.

"“We always will keep our options open to that. But we’re not going to sign someone for the sake of signing him,” Perry said on Tuesday, via ESPN‘s Nick Friedell."

More from NBA Free Agency

While the Knicks are keeping their options open, Reed should not be in their plans. He was suspended for six games last season, without pay, for a domestic violence incident. Off-court issues are not something that the Knicks need to be dealing with. They have had to deal with enough of those in recent seasons with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.

On the court, Reed just isn’t a fit either. The Knicks lost Kyle O’Quinn in free agency, as he signed with the Indiana Pacers, so adding a center would have made sense. However, the Knicks look to have a capable backup center in Mitchell Robinson.

Robinson dominated at the Las Vegas Summer League. He has some things to work on, but he showed enough that he should be in the mix for minutes right out of the gate.

Joakim Noah is also on the roster still, with Enes Kanter locked in at center. Luke Kornet, who signed earlier in the month, can also provide some minutes at center. Given the current state of the team, the Knicks should be giving as many minutes to the younger guys that they can handle.

Another one of those younger players could be Daniel Ochefu. In addition to Robinson, the Knicks also had center Ochefu at the Summer League. Ochefu played well in Las Vegas and looks like a player worth developing given his playmaking, rebounding prowess and ability to protect the rim.

Right now it looks like the Knicks have at least three centers that will be on the roster opening night. There isn’t room for Reed in that logjam, and it isn’t worth possibly cutting a player such as Damyean Dotson to make room for him.

Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far

If the Knicks are going to sign anyone the remainder of the offseason it will be a veteran player to help the younger guys develop. Someone in the mold of Jarrett Jack, who was signed right before training camp last season but earned a starting spot quickly into the regular season.

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