Knicks sign waived Magic guard Bacon to add even more depth
The Knicks have picked up yet another shooting guard as a depth piece, agreeing to terms on Dwayne Bacon, who was waived by the Magic on Sunday.
Bacon is a Creative Artists Agency client. Knicks president Leon Rose ran CAA before coming to the Knicks. It’s unclear where Bacon fits in or if he makes the squad. It’s another wing on a Knicks roster now loaded with them.
The Knicks have 16 players slated for their 15-man roster, including Argentine point guard Luca Vildoza, who has a non-guaranteed deal and didn’t look too sharp at the Olympics or in the first two summer league games (scoreless in 13 minutes).
The 6-foot-6 Bacon, a former teammate of Kemba Walker in Charlotte and Evan Fournier in Orlando, played in all 72 games (50 starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 10.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 25.7 minutes. He was one of only 11 players in the NBA to play in all 72 regular-season games — with RJ Barrett also one of them.
Originally selected in the second round (40th overall) of the 2017 draft by New Orleans, Bacon has played in 207 career NBA regularseason games with Charlotte and Orlando, averaging 7.3 points.
➤ The Knicks attempted to trade their two first-round picks to move up to No. 13 to draft Oregon swingman sniper Chris Duarte.
As it happened the Pacers wanted no part of it and selected Duarte. Meanwhile, the Knicks made a series of trades that ultimately landed them the 25th pick which they used on the University of Houston’s shooting guard Quentin Grimes.
The disparity was evident in Monday’s game with the Pacers as Duarte played his first summer league game. He showed why the Knicks lusted after him. Duarte scored 14 points in 26 minutes, making 3 of 7 3-pointers, and registering two blocks. Afterward, Duarte said he was aware the Knicks were trying to move up but was just happy to be picked so high.
Duarte blocked Grimes’ shot on a fast break, then demonstrated his jumping ability by leaping to reject with two hands an Obi Toppin runner.
According to a source, Knicks senior vice president William Wesley was Duarte’s biggest fan and sat courtside in watching Duarte’s polish Monday.
Grimes had his second poor shooting performance, going 2 of 10 for six points, but he finished with six rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes. He’s got a solid shooting stroke but nothing is falling. He’s a combined 5 of 21 in the first two games.
“I feel like I’ve been playing all right,’’ Grimes said. “Just got to shoot the ball a little bit better, trying to get the jitters out and everything.’’
➤ Lefty combo guard Rokas Jokubaitis, the Knicks’ secondround pick out of Lithuania, made his debut and looked nervous. He fumbled two passes in nine minutes but showed speed in getting to the rim and finished with three points. Jokubaitis likely is headed to Barcelona for the season.