The New York Knicks have a few remaining roster spots to fill, and they are reportedly considering adding a veteran forward who was recently released.
According to HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto, the Knicks are one of the teams showing interest in signing free agent Davis Bertans, who has a career 3-point shooting percentage of 39.6% and most recently played for Latvia in the FIBA Olympics Qualifying Tournament.
Bertans, 31, was originally a second-round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, traded from the Indiana Pacers to the San Antonio Spurs in the Kawhi Leonard deal. After starting in Europe, he joined the NBA in 2016 with the Spurs and has since played for several teams, including the Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and most recently the Charlotte Hornets, where his tenure was reportedly challenging.
Following news of his release from the Hornets, Bertans expressed his focus on playing for Latvia, stating to BasketNews, “My main focus is [playing for Latvia] with this jersey on. In a way, I’m really happy that this right now is the only jersey that I wear.”
Last season, Bertans averaged 6.7 points per game across 43 appearances with the Thunder and Hornets. With eight seasons of NBA experience, his veteran presence could significantly benefit the Knicks.
New York currently has three vacant roster spots, with one potentially going to second-round rookie Kevin McCullar Jr., who may also land a two-way contract. While the Knicks still need to address their center position, adding Bertans could help fill the void left by veteran shooting guard Alec Burks, who departed for the Miami Heat in free agency.
