Knicks officially sign Austin Rivers as part of Rockets signing and trade

Nineteen years after the Knicks acquired Doc Rivers, his son will also officially wear the jersey.

The Knicks have officially announced the signing of combo guard Austin Rivers in a signing and trade with Houston. The Knicks will secure draft rights to overseas guard Sergio Llull and Rockets forwards Tadija Dragicevic and Axel Hervelle in exchange for draft rights to Issuf Sanon.

That’s two more bodies to sign and put in a future trade for cap math – one team has to return something and the Knicks would rather pitch a European player than cash. The Knicks agreed to deal with Rivers on Sunday, giving him a single year guarantee. This is a $ 10 million package over 3 years, the last two years are not guaranteed.

Including two-way street player Jared Harper and coin 10 signer Myles Powell, the Knicks bring eight pointy guards to camp.

Five will fight for the starting position – Rivers, Elfrid Payton, Frank Ntilikina, Dennis Smith Jr. and first-round pick Immanuel Quickley.

There has only been one other “official” father-son Knicks tandem. Ernie Vandeweghe and Kiki Vandeweghe were the first. Patrick Ewing and Patrick Ewing Jr. and Ernie and Dan Grunfield also wore the jersey, but their sons never played a regular season game – right before the season. As a result, Patrick Jr. and Dan are not on the official all-time roster.

The 6-foot-4 Rivers is an old 2012 lottery pick, but it’s become something of a companion. Last season, Rivers averaged 8.8 points (42.1% FG and 35.6% 3FG), 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 23.4 minutes in 68 games. His father now trains nearby – the Sixers.

Thibodeau was on the staff of Doc Rivers in Boston and always admired his son’s basketball IQ. Doc Rivers played more than two seasons for the Knicks – from 1992 to 1994.