Knicks’ interest in Terry Rozier may pay off in Kemba Walker fallout
Point guard Kemba Walker, a native New Yorker, could give the Knicks his first assist.
If Walker flees Charlotte for Boston, there are reports the Celtics could renounce the rights to backup point guard Terry Rozier, who has long been an apple of Knicks GM Scott Perry’s eye.
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In that scenario, Rozier would be an unrestricted free agent and the Knicks would have serious interest. If Rozier entered free agency as restricted, the Knicks would be much more cautious because Boston can match any offer and their cap money would get tied up as the Celtics decide.
There are some in the organization who wouldn’t regard Rozier as too far a step down from Kyrie Irving because of his age — 25. Rozier, who went to Louisville, also knows Kentucky’s Kevin Knox.
“He’s a good player, young, willing to defend and shoots better than people think,” one NBA personnel director said. “The problem this season with Terry was the locker room from what I’m told Kyrie destroyed.”
In November, The Post reported the Knicks would have interest if Celtics GM Danny Ainge put Rozier on the trading block. Rozier, who led the Celtics to the 2018 Eastern Conference finals, reportedly was unhappy with his new backup role upon Irving’s return.
According to an NBA source, at the 2018 trade deadline, the Knicks “were shopping” for what they called their “own young Terry Rozier.’’ The Knicks landed Emmanuel Mudiay, who will be an unrestricted free agent June 30 and has a small chance of re-signing.
Rozier addressed the Knicks rumblings on ESPN’s “Jalen and Jacoby.”
“I definitely can [see it],” Rozier said in a May 14 interview. “This is a great organization. Everybody knows about the New York Knicks, the sports market, the city of New York. It’d be great.”
The common thinking was if Irving left as a free agent, the Celtics would re-sign Rozier and match any offer sheet.
However, Walker reportedly has a contract stalemate with Charlotte, which has not offered him the max. Boston is viewed as the front-runner, according to ESPN.com.
The Knicks consider Walker a situational max player if, say, Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard, want to play with him. Irving, meanwhile, appears set on Brooklyn, according to The Post’s Brian Lewis.
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If the Knicks whiff on Durant and Leonard, they will use their cap space for one- and two-year deals, pending the player, according to sources. That is partly to keep cap flexibility for 2021 when Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes a free agent.
Rozier would have to fall in the two-year contract category.
According to the New York Times, the Knicks have mulled a one-year max offer for center DeMarcus Cousins, but an NBA source said the interest is mild.
According to a source, team president Steve Mills wants players who fit the bill of being able to tutor their young players.
Cousins has some baggage but is also known to some as a good teammate. Like Durant, he’s coming off a torn Achilles.
