New York Knicks had their eyes set on Greg Monroe or LaMarcus Aldridge this summer in free agency. They were looking for a veteran big man to come in and play alongside Carmelo Anthony.
Well, those plans have not quite worked well as Aldridge is just about down to the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns in his search for a new team. He added insult to injury by canceling a meeting with the Knicks partly due to New York wanting to play Aldridge at center, a position he doesn’t want to play. Greg Monroe spurned the Knicks to join the Milwaukee Bucks and he ends up not coming to New York, despite it being reported as a ‘done deal’ way back in April.
With their top two options off the board, they now turn to DeAndre Jordan. Well, he’s been linked to the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers very heavily so there’s only one other choice. They had to activate their ‘plan c’ and decide to go after Robin Lopez.
Following from ESPN’s Marc Stein.
Source close to talks says Robin Lopez has COMMITTED to join Knicks and will do so … UNLESS DeAndre Jordan chooses Knicks
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 3, 2015
ESPN sources say Robin Lopez has chosen Knicks over Lakers and will join NYK as long as DeAndre Jordan, as expected, chooses Clips or Mavs
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 3, 2015
Deal details for Lopez/Knicks remain unclear, but he's prepared to go to NYC as long as there's still an opening there after DeAndre decides
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 3, 2015
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported the contract agreement for Robin Lopez and the Knicks.
Free-agent center Robin Lopez has agreed in principle to a four-year, $54 million contract with the New York Knicks, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Knicks coach Derek Fisher has previously said the team is in the market for a veteran big man. While Lopez isn’t the best name available, he does fit the criteria. He will be bringing his mascot attacks to Madison Square Garden.
Lopez will be playing alongside Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis on the Knicks frontline and won’t be asked to do much scoring. He can get his when needed but his main focus will be rebounding and on the defensive end.
Now maybe he and his brother Brook Lopez, who just re-signed with the Brooklyn Nets, can share an apartment in New York City.
UPDATE: DeAndre Jordan has informed the Knicks he will not be joining them.
Sources: DeAndre Jordan's reps informed the Knicks that free agent center has eliminated them, clearing way for Robin Lopez's $54m deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 3, 2015
Jordan's focus remains Clippers and Mavericks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 3, 2015
