Knicks could still be in the talent market

The Knicks sent out an avalanche of press releases on Wednesday, catching up with some of the moves already reported – signing Nerlens Noel, formalizing a two-way deal for Jared Harper and completing the coaching staff. The busy work before the holidays helped them prepare for training camp next week.

But it’s what hasn’t been announced and not yet finished that remains a mystery to the Knicks. While Leon Rose’s first round of staff as team chairman has managed to keep the ceiling flexible and avoid any awkward deals, they have also done little to build a roster that looks set to rival this. season.

The Knicks may not be over. The team remains about $ 18 million below the salary cap and also $ 8 million below the salary cap. While the Knicks don’t have to reach that floor until the end of the season, either now or during the season, the front office is hoping to turn that space into talent.

Rose and her staff have previously avoided the asking price for Russell Westbrook as the Houston Rockets made him available in a trade. But Houston looked for young talent and dumped the three years and $ 133 million left on Westbrook’s contract. The Knicks didn’t bite Chris Paul when the Oklahoma City Thunder moved him, again trying to avoid doing long-term, expensive deals on their caps.

But that doesn’t mean the team won’t sign another contract and that there are still plenty of opportunities. The Charlotte Hornets, to complete Gordon Hayward’s signing and trade with the Boston Celtics, must withdraw the remaining year $ 27 million owed to Nic Batum and have purchased a third team to close and absorb that deal. The Knicks and Thunder are among the teams that have the capacity to make such a deal.

Other contracts likely to be moved include Victor Oladipo from Indiana and DeMar DeRozan from San Antonio. Oladipo is expected to earn $ 21 million this season, while DeRozan will earn $ 27 million.

Notes and quotes: The Knicks are expected to strike a signing-and-trade deal with Houston to facilitate the addition of Austin Rivers. . . In addition to Darren Erman who was added on Tuesday, the Knicks formalized the rest of coach Tom Thibodeau’s staff, adding longtime NBA goalie Aaron Brooks as a two-way liaison, strength coach Richard Williams. , forward scout and assistant coach Larry Greer and scouts Reggie Johnson and TJ Zanin. They also added assistant video coordinators Ike Azotam, Christopher Santo and Gabriel Snider. Brooks played for Thibodeau and was a client of Rose when Rose was an agent.