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The Knicks could still use some depth at the forward position. With that in mind, they are preparing to sign ... Mindaugas Kuzminskas?
Mindaugas Kuzminskas signing with the New York Knicks.
— Sportando (@Sportando) July 5, 2016
He already informed Dogus that he is heading to the NBA
Who? What? Where?
Mindaugas Kuzminskas had already an agreement with Dogus.
— Sportando (@Sportando) July 5, 2016
Knicks have to pay a "high buyout" to the Turkish team to free him, per source
Knicks fans: Kuzminskas is a 6'9 SF with long arms, smooth J, decent athleticism, good off-ball cutting/finishing. Idk who he guards though
— Austin Green (@LosCrossovers) July 5, 2016
Offensively, Kuzminskas is a skilled/versatile wing. Defensively, he'll struggle vs NBA speed/strength/leaping. Should be solid bench guy
— Austin Green (@LosCrossovers) July 5, 2016
Mindaugas Kuzminskas was tremendous last season shooting an eFG% of 74% in transition, 58% on spot up Js, and 53% going 1-on-1 in the post.
— Synergy Sports Tech (@SynergySST) July 5, 2016
OK, sooooo this is what we know: Kuzminskas is a 26-year-old, 6'9" forward who wasn't selected in the 2011 draft. He worked out for the Lakers recently. He's played the last three seasons with Unicaja in Spain. He has a highlight video on YouTube.
He roughed up Team USA in the 2014 FIBA, for what it's worth:
This is hot off the European presses, so we have precious few details on the contract, whether it is or isn't guaranteed, or whether the Knicks are using cap space or an exception to make the signing.
Don't worry, folks: We'll keep you posted. There's so much more Mindaugas yet to come.
Update
Knicks offered Mindaugas Kuzminskas a two-year $6 million deal, source said. He should be en route to US.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) July 5, 2016
My cap-savvy associate, Matt RW, assures me that will have to come out of the room mid-level exception. They're going to have to sign their free agents in a certain order to fit Willy Hernangomez: "So the order they have to do this in is Brandon Jennings, Willy, Kuz, Lance Thomas. The first two and the last two are interchangeable. But has to be Jennings and Willy first."
For now, here's some more good reading on Kuzminskas.