Source: Knicks talk to Waiters
ORLANDO, Fla. — When Steve Mills was Knicks president for a five-month stint during the 2013-14 season, he made a bid to trade for Syracuse product Dion Waiters, who then was with the Cavaliers.
Nothing materialized, as Waiters struggled through a troubling season. Last summer, the Knicks again made a lukewarm bid for Waiters when he became a free agent, but they signed Courtney Lee instead. Waiters signed a oneyear deal with the Heat.
Now Waiters, coming off a career year despite injuries, is on the market again and a lot more expensive — and the Knicks have reached out again, according to a source.
If the Knicks renounce the rights to Derrick Rose (who, ESPN reported, will meet with the Clippers on Wednesday), they will have $15 million of cap space. Miami, which is big in the hunt to retain Waiters, waived Chris Bosh on Tuesday under the special medical agreement with the NBA that opened up $25 million in cap room.
Waiters also reportedly will meet with the Lakers, whose new general manager, Rob Pelinka, is his former agent.
The Knicks still are trying to make a play as the pickings get slimmer. They are out of the George Hill sweepstakes after he signed a three-year, $57 million deal with the Kings.
Rose is still in play, but the Knicks have had only internal discussions about point guard Rajon Rondo and have yet to contact his agent. But they are monitoring the situation, according to a source. They have already contacted the agent for Shelvin Mack, the Jazz’s freeagent point guard. The Knicks are trying to find a veteran to mentor Frank Ntilikina.
The Knicks also reportedly reached out to Spurs forward Jonathon Simmons. They have considered making a trade to fill the cap space they would have.
A Knicks official said it’s “unlikely’’ Ntilikina (knee bruise) will suit up for Wednesday’s summer-league game, meaning he will have missed the first four. It would seem doubtful the club would throw him in just for the finale after not practicing.
Canyon Barry, son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry, provided Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek his only laugh of the summer league so far when he sank an underhanded free throw. The 23year-old, in a tribute to his father, shoots his free throws underhanded. He shot 80.8 percent from the line during his four-year college career, and set the Florida Gators record, making 42 straight.
“[Jeff] has a great basketball IQ and good eye for the game,’’ Canyon Barry told The Post. “If I’m making my free throws, whether I’m throwing them in backward, underhand or overhand, as long as I’m making them, he’ll be happy. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”