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The New York Knicks ‘are fans of the idea of adding Donte DiVincenzo’ to its roster, causing a potential reunion with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart to recreate the Villanova glory days
- DiVincenzo only has a year left – a player option for 2023-24 – with the Warriors
- The 26-year-old won two NCAA championships with Brunson and Josh Hart
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Golden State Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo has been tipped to sign with the New York Knicks this summer, as he’d potentially reunite with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart to recreate the Villanova trio that won two NCAA championships in 2016 and 2018.
DiVincenzo, 26, averaged 9.4 points per game in the San Francisco Bay Area on a two-year deal with a player option for 2023-24, and it’s certainly a possibility that he could look to secure both a longer deal and larger bag this offseason.
According to SportsNet New York’s (SNY) Ian Bagley, several influential members of the Knicks front office are ‘fans of the idea of adding Donte DiVincenzo.’
What’s more is that the Knicks ‘will have access to the $12.2million non-taxpayer exception in the offseason,’ per Bagley’s report. Di Vincenzo makes less than that amount, earning $9.25M over two years with the Warriors.
‘I don’t know if there is mutual interest but DiVincenzo played with both Brunson and Josh Hart at Villanova,’ Bagley added. ‘Hart is a potential free agent and it would be stunning if he didn’t re-sign in New York on a multi-year agreement if he chooses to test free agency.’
Golden State Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo, 26, is set to become a free agent this summer
If he signs with the Knicks, DiVincenzo would reunite with Jalen Brunson (1) and Josh Hart (3)
The Knicks could perhaps rely on Hart to act as a recruiting agent to land DiVincenzo after calling for the franchise to sign his former college teammate in an interview with Taylor Rooks, of Bleacher Report, earlier this month.
The Knicks badly struggled from behind the three-point line in its Eastern Semifinals Conference matchup against the Miami Heat, finishing 8-for-40 overall from beyond the arc in their Game 3 loss at Kaseya Center.
DiVincenzo would certainly help in that department as he converted 39.7 percent of his overall attempts from three last season.
DiVincenzo averaged 9.4 points per game in the San Francisco Bay Area this past season
New York’s also set to regain $15.6M back in salary after declining Derrick Rose’s option for the upcoming season.
DiVicenzo, nicknamed ‘Big Ragu’ due to his ginger hair and Italian heritage, has also experienced deep playoff runs, which would bolster the Knicks’ hopes of advancing past the second-round next season. Di Vincenzo is a 2021 NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks, playing a pivotal role off the bench.
It was in college, however, that DiVicenzo earned some time in the spotlight, setting a Final Four record with 31 points off the bench in Villanova’s National Championship win against Michigan in 2018, under Jay Wright. He was named as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for his sixth man displays.
If DiVincenzo ends up playing in the Big Apple next season, the Knicks would have to trim its guard department, which is already stacked with Miles McBride, Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley, and of course, Jalen Brunson.
Quickley’s rookie contract expires next summer and unless the Knicks offer him a new deal before then, the Sixth Man of the Year might just be one of the hottest free agents around in 2024.
