Knicks Make Contract Decision on Jericho Sims

The eyes of Texas are upon a third season with the New York Knicks.

University of Texas alum Jericho Sims is set to return to Manhattan, as Fred Katz of The Athletic reported that the team does not intend to waive him by an 11:59 p.m. ET deadline, which stands as a financial landmark that guarantees him $1.2 million of his $1.9 million salary for the 2023-24 season. The contract becomes fully guaranteed on Aug. 16.

The Knicks will NOT be waiving Jericho Sims before tonight’s deadline, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA. Once the team holds onto Sims past 11:59pm this evening, $1.2M of his 2023-24 salary becomes guaranteed. Sims’ $1.9M salary becomes fully guaranteed Aug. 20.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) July 16, 2023

Bringing back the 6-10, 245-lb. Sims is hardly a surprise considering what's transpired on the Knicks' depth chart this offseason: while Tom Thibodeau more or less removed Sims from his nine-man rotation (exclusively sticking with Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein at center), the team could use sizable depth with Obi Toppin having been traded to the Indiana Pacers. Donte DiVincenzo is more or less poised to assume Toppin's spot in the nine-man rotation but he lacks the size to adequately back up Julius Randle as the primary power forward.

Sims appeared in 52 games last season, including 16 starts. He averaged 3.4 points and 4.7 rebounds a game, shooting over 77 percent from the field (almost exclusively shooting no further than three feet from the basket). A second-round pick in the 2021 draft, Sims was later chosen to represent the Knicks in the 2023 Slam Dunk Contest in Salt Lake City's All-Star festivities. Sims was an injury replacement for Portland's Shaedon Sharpe and placed third among four competitors.

Sidelined in favor of Robinson and Hartenstein, Sims was shelved during the Knicks' 11-game playoff run due to shoulder surgery that ended his sophomore season prematurely. He is expected to be ready in time for this fall's training camp.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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