New York Knicks sign 1st-round pick Porzingis

The New York Knicks on Thursday have signed first draft picks Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant along with the re-signing of Knicks forward Lou Amundson.

Porzingis will earn $3.4 million next season, according to the rookie-scale contracts negotiated in the CBA.

Meanwhile, Amundson signed for a $1.65 million deal, or just above the veteran’s minimum, with the Knicks according to NY Daily News. Porzingis had played professionally for Cajasol Seville in Spain over the past three seasons. At the National Basketball Association summer league in Las Vegas this month, the 19-year-old averaged 10.5 points in four games.

Jack Arent/NBAE/Getty Images The Knicks take Kristaps Porzinigis with the fourth overall pick in the draft. Grant has a lot of experience in his time at Notre Dame and he also said that he is ready to take on the triangle.

6-foot-4 guard Grant on the other hand, was the 19th overall pick who averaged 14.6 points and 5.8 assists in four seasons with Notre Dame. The Ventura, CA native averaged 6.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 41 games for the Knicks in 2014-15. He could compete for a starting backcourt role as coach Derek Fisher tries to speed up the offense.

With these two signings the Knicks now have 11 players under contract with four open roster spots to fill by the start of the regular season.

The Knicks have room for a couple more players and Ian Begley at ESPN New York reports that Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Ricky Ledo are “under consideration” for spots this year.

The Knicks aren’t done on the free-agent market either.

Begley writes that the Knicks still have a $2.8 million exception to use on a veteran free agent and a deal could come ahead of camp for the team.

As reported, the Knicks have shown interest in Kevin Seraphin and Carlos Boozer.