Lithuanian prospect and 2015 draft pick agree to pacts, headed to Garden
ORLANDO, Fla. — Knicks president Phil Jackson is now aggressively rolling the dice on Europe.
Mindaugas Kuzminskas, a 26year-old small forward from Lithuania who went undrafted in 2011, has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Knicks, according to NBA sources.
Kuzminskas played for Malaga in the Spanish league last season. Knicks scouts were there watching center Willy Hernangomez, their stash second-round pick from the 2015 draft who also agreed to terms Tuesday on what is believed a three-year deal at more than $1 million per season.
But according to a source, the Jackson regime has liked Kuzminskas for some time. The Knicks beat out the Lakers and Hawks for his services, according to sources.
One European scout told The Post that Kuzminskas has “Danilo Gallinari skills’’ and is a good defender and a very high character guy. Another NBA personnel man said his game resembles a young Dirk Nowitzki’s in style, if not in quality.
According to a person familiar with the Knicks’ thinking, they are unclear whether he will make the rotation or be a bit player with some stints playing for the Westchester Knicks.
One European scout said because Kuzminskas went undrafted, partly because he played for a bad team in a low-level Lithuanian league, he was difficult to evaluate.
“But he wasn’t ready,’’ the scout said.
The Knicks’ European scout is
Kevin Wilson, who lives in Spain, and the Knicks have a strong grasp of the Spanish League. The Knicks will have three recent Spanish leaguers on their roster in Kristaps Porzingis, Hernangomez and Kuzminskas.
Porzingis and Hernangomez are former Seville teammates, and the Latvian lobbied for Hernangomez’s signing after he got offers from European teams that forced the Knicks to sign him for more than the minimum. The only drawback is Hernangomez is playing for the Spanish Olympic team and won’t have a summer league under his belt to learn the triangle offense. He won’t get to New York until early September. It’s possible Hernangomez plays less this season than Kuzminskas.
Kuzminskas is playing for Lithuania in an Olympic qualifier, but will fly to New York to sign his contract for part of the $2.9 million room exception.
He is listed at 6-foot-8, averaged 12.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game for Malaga last season.
Kuzminskas recently signed a deal with a Turkish club, now coached by David Blatt, but it contains a $675,000 NBA buyout. The Kuzminskas signing means free agent Derrick Williams, who opted out, is essentially a goner. The Knicks will have to remove his cap hold or renounce his rights to afford their recent signings.