The Knicks plan to sign former Duke and Creighton wing Alex O’Connell to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
O’Connell, who went undrafted in 2022, played his first professional season with the Stockton Kings, appearing in 48 G League games and averaging 9.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 21.7 minutes per game, with shooting splits of .476/.379/.769.
Last September, the Westchester Knicks acquired O’Connell’s rights from Stockton, but he spent the 2023/24 season in Italy with Reyer Venezia, competing in the Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroCup.
The 25-year-old impressed the Knicks during a recent free agent mini-camp and will join the team for Summer League play, per Begley. It appears likely that O’Connell will join the Westchester Knicks as a returning-rights player, but if he continues to stand out this summer and fall, his Exhibit 10 contract could be converted into a two-way deal.
An Exhibit 10 contract is a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary deal that doesn’t count against a team’s cap unless the player makes the regular season roster. It can be converted to a two-way contract before the season starts, or it can offer a player a bonus of up to $77.5K if he’s waived and then spends at least 60 days with the team’s G League affiliate.
Knicks’ Emerging Guard Optimistic About Team’s Future Despite Isaiah Hartenstein’s Exit
The New York Knicks bid farewell to their beloved center, Isaiah Hartenstein, who signed a three-year, $87 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. Despite the loss, Knicks’ shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo remains optimistic about the team’s future.
“Whatever team we have, I think we’re going to be very good,” DiVincenzo told The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. “No matter what happens the rest of the offseason, I think overall everybody is going to come back and get better. With [Tom Thibodeau], there’s always a foundation, it doesn’t matter who is on the court. No matter who is on the team, I think we got a sense and a taste of what we can do and how we can take that next step.”
Despite losing Hartenstein, the Knicks have a strong lineup heading into next season. They recently agreed on a trade with the Brooklyn Nets to acquire two-way guard Mikal Bridges, though it won’t be official until July 6. This move positions the Knicks to compete with the Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference title.
Hartenstein’s departure was almost inevitable due to cap constraints related to his early Bird rights. Ultimately, he chose not to take a significant pay cut, preferring the chance to compete for a title with the Thunder. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, Hartenstein’s decision was influenced by the significant raise offered by OKC compared to what the Knicks could offer.
“Isaiah Hartenstein’s decision was difficult,” Begley posted on X. “He loved his teammates, the energy of the fan base, and the city. The opportunity for a big raise while maintaining the chance to compete for a title was a factor. If a rebuilding team made this offer, it might have been different. The Knicks did everything they could to keep him, making the decision very hard for him.”
The Knicks now need to find Hartenstein’s replacement. Currently, Mitchell Robinson is expected to return as the starter, with Jericho Sims as the backup. New York is also looking to add another center, with Precious Achiuwa as a potential option.
DiVincenzo, who thrived in his first season with the Knicks, began last season as a reserve but became a starter due to injuries. He posted career-high averages of 15.5 points per game and shot 40% from three. In the last 35 games, he averaged 21 points and made 161 three-pointers as a starter. With Bridges joining, DiVincenzo will likely return to his intended bench role, highlighting the Knicks’ depth.
Although losing Hartenstein is a setback, the Knicks are still poised to be strong contenders next season with their current roster and potential offseason additions.
