Guerschon Yabusele #28 of the New York Knicks
Getty
Guerschon Yabusele #28 of the New York Knicks
It’s not that New York Knicks forward Guerschon Yabusele needed to do much to fuel NBA trade rumors. Those had already been humming for the team’s top free-agent signee of last summer. Yabusele converted a solid season off the bench in Philadelphia last year into a two-year, $11.3 million contract with the Knicks, and since then has done precious little in New York.
In all, Yabusele went from averaging 11.0 points in 27.1 minutes last year with the Sixers to 2.9 points in 9.4 minutes this year, as he has shot just 39.2% from the field and 30.8% from the 3-point line.
He has appeared in 37 games and has been a healthy scratch seven times. The Knicks signed him to provide big-man depth on a roster that needs it, but coach Mike Brown has clearly not found Yabusele to be very useful. He has played 348 total minutes, and backup center Ariel Hukporti is not far behind him, with 263 minutes.
Guerschon Yabusele Deleted Message
All this is to say, it’s no secret that the Knicks are willing to move Yabusele in a trade, and with his modest contract and recent productivity in Philadelphia, there is a market for him. But Yabu kicked the already rampant trade speculation around him into high gear this week when he sent out a message on Twitter/X.
The message: “Whatever happens tomorrow, I’m extremely blessed to be in the position that I am today. Minor setback for a major comeback that’s my favorite.”
Yabusele later deleted the message, but not before it made the rounds and had many speculating that Yabusele would be traded on Friday. That did not come to pass, but it’s likely that by “tomorrow” he was being metaphorical, speaking about the short-term future in general.
Image
The Knicks have talked to just about every team in the NBA about Yabusele. The feeling is that, in the end, they will have to attach a second-round draft pick to get a team to take on his salary. Whatever the Knicks do, because they are less than $150,000 below the second luxury-tax apron, they can’t take back more than the $5.5 million on Yabusele’s deal for this season.
Knicks Presumed to Trade Away Guerschon Yabusele
While it is generally assumed that the Knicks will trade away Yabusele, it’s not a definite. Yabusele, by all accounts, has been a fine teammate and locker room presence, and the Knicks would not be harmed by keeping him on board and trying to trade him this summer.
Still, coach Mike Brown did not offer much hope for Yabusele getting back into the rotation.
Brown explained that the Knicks have their five starters, and like to use a bench of Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet and Miles McBride. “The first thing is, when we are healthy, it is a little tough. Because the reality of it is right now, our top eight guys are starters,” Brown said.
“Mitch, Landry and Deuce. If you take those eight guys, I have a threshold of maximum minutes that I like to try to play guys in a regular season. With those eight guys, a lot of times, I can’t even meet the minutes for them because there’s just not enough minutes there.”
Knicks Have Crowded Rotation
Brown added that another Knicks offseason signing, Jordan Clarkson, is in the same situation. Yabusele and Clarkson are the ninth and 10th players in the rotation, and whether they play–and how much–depends on matchups.
“Sometimes, to factor in a ninth or tenth guy can make it tough,” Brown said. “But those guys that may not be in the top eight, tope nine—sometimes you might be able to get a ninth guy in—they just have to stay ready. And a lot of times, that ninth guy, when he does lay, it’s based on matchups.
“Like, teams play four guards now and a center. And if there are four quick guards out there, it may be easier to lay Jordan than Yabu. And if their fourth guy is a forward, a true power forward, it’s going to be easier to play Yabu instead of Jordan.”