Jericho Sims, just lately faraway from New York’s rotation and inactive Monday with again spasms, is being shopped forward of subsequent month’s commerce deadline, NBA sources who’ve been involved with the workforce informed The Submit.
The middle, among the many franchise’s longest-tenured gamers, has been in-and-out of the rotation and was just lately changed by Ariel Hukporti on a “game-to-game” foundation, based on Tom Thibodeau.
Sims additionally began three video games this season — all missed by Karl-Anthony Cities due to accidents.
It’s unclear what the Knicks can retrieve for Sims however a supply mentioned a second-round decide was one ask.
The 26-year-old has garnered some curiosity across the NBA.
However he’s additionally a tricky promote in the marketplace as a participant who’s out of a rotation and can turn out to be a free agent in the summertime.
The Knicks may add one other heart this season, Mitchell Robinson, who, based on Tom Thibodeau, stays on tempo to return to follow this month after a protracted restoration from ankle surgical procedure.
Sims’ future is also tied to Robinson’s return, and whether or not it’s earlier than the Feb. 6 commerce deadline, a supply mentioned.
Robinson nonetheless hasn’t begun sprinting, nonetheless.
“That’s the next step,” the coach mentioned. “He’s doing some light shooting right now.”
Sims’ remaining deal is simply $2.1 million and expiring. The Knicks, who’re working above the primary apron, can’t take again extra wage than they’re sending out.
The 58th decide within the 2021 draft, Sims represented the Knicks’ solely frontcourt reserve within the rotation for opening 20 video games of this season as Valuable Achiuwa sat with a strained hamstring.
Sims’ offense remained a battle however his paint protection garnered constant reward from Thibodeau.
With Cities nursing knee soreness, Sims began final week’s loss to the Magic and logged 29 minutes with 10 rebounds.
He performed 4 minutes two nights later in a win over the Raptors, then turned the Knicks’ solely DNP in video games towards the Thunder and Bucks.
His late scratch Monday with the again harm was not associated to any imminent commerce, a supply mentioned.
As an alternative of utilizing Sims for backup minutes within the earlier two video games earlier than Monday’s matchup towards the Pistons, Thibodeau turned to Hukporti, the 22-year-old from Germany.
Hukporti’s one-year contract turned absolutely assured Friday.
“Just where we are,” Thibodeau mentioned. “Just looking at different things.”
The upside with Sims resides in his elite athleticism.
He’s a former Slam Dunk contestant who can clear the rim together with his head.
Nonetheless, Sims is proscribed offensively and by no means earned the belief from Thibodeau to broaden his recreation past setting screens, crashing the boards and dunking.
He’s averaging a career-low this season in factors (1.7) and minutes (11.6) whereas showing in 32 video games.
New York’s frontcourt depth has been a key query since preseason when Robinson’s restoration from a second ankle surgical procedure.
A supply mentioned the Knicks are exploring totally different prospects of buying frontcourt depth — however are concurrently purchasing Sims.
