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Yes, the Knicks play preseason basketball this Friday, but we also now know they’re signing up to have the Westchester Knicks play ball in the NBA’s yet-to-be-officially-announced G League bubble.
At least a dozen NBA teams are expected to opt-in to the G league bubble outside Atlanta, including the @nyknicks and @BrooklynNets, per league sources. Some teams may combine to form one team.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) December 9, 2020
Another group will opt-out, including Lakers, Celtics, Heat and Pistons
What’s the deal with this G League bubble? Well, it’s not really all that clear just yet. All that we know is that it’s supposed to be happening in Atlanta and will require an entrance fee from competing teams around $500,000. For an NBA team that would seem like small potatoes, but considering the investment is just for a G League season, some teams apparently don’t see the utility (and it’s unsurprising that most of the reportedly opted-out teams are contenders that probably have less use for a farm system).
One option for the forthcoming NBA G League season that has gained some traction, sources say, is a bubble concept in the Atlanta area that would cost NBA teams an entry fee in the $500,000 range
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 27, 2020
Not all 28 G League teams, under that proposal, would be expected to participate
The Knicks are going to have some NBA bodies with their G League team too, as the signings are already flying in. First, the Knicks signed former Kentucky star recruit Skal Labissiere, who was No. 2 behind Ben Simmons in the ESPN 100 ranking of high school players back in 2015. He’s had a pretty tumultuous route since getting drafted in the first round of the 2016 draft, ultimately now landing him on the Knicks’ G League squad, presumably trying to earn a deal with the Knicks or just resuscitate his value in general.
Knicks to add Jaren Jackson Sr. - ex-NBA player & father of Jaren Jackson Jr. - to G League staff & plan to sign Skal Labissiere & James Young; both are likely to play w/Westchester, NYK’s G League club, sources confirm. First reported by NY Times. More: https://t.co/RLR6fHS9av
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) December 8, 2020
The Knicks also signed former Kentucky Wildcat James Young to the team as well, who was drafted by the Celtics in 2014 but hasn’t seen NBA action since 2017-18. He’s had a really prolific G League career to this point, though. The Knicks also re-signed Andrew White, who played for Westchester last season.
Andrew White has agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the Knicks, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 8, 2020
Additionally, the Knicks just signed Jaren Jackson Sr. (dad of current Memphis Grizzly Jaren Jackson Jr. [eye emoji eye emoji]) to help in some capacity with the W-Knicks as well.
The Knicks are expected to hire Jaren Jackson Sr. for a role with the Knicks' @nbagleague team in Westchester, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 8, 2020
Jackson played 12 seasons in the NBA, won a championship with San Antonio in 1999 and, of course, is the father of Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr.
If I was a betting man, I’d probably also bet on Myles Powell getting cut from the big Knicks on his Exhibit 10 deal and getting paid a nice little premium to play for the W-Knicks until such a time that the Knicks make a midseason trade and clear up a roster spot for him.
So with all that said, sounds like Knicks fans will have something to look forward to in the G League this year in addition to just the big leagues!