The New York Knicks are one of the multiple teams expected to pursue the Washington Wizards’ top free agent Davis Bertans, according to a report.
Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington reported on Monday that Bertans has also drawn interest from three teams — two from the East and one from the West — without a cap space in a sign-and-trade scenario in addition to the Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, and the Phoenix Suns, who have the cap space to add him right away.
The Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Denver Nuggets have shown interest in Bertans at the February trade deadline.
Bertans is coming off a career year despite missing the entire NBA bubble. In 54 games with the Wizards last season, the Latvian sharpshooter averaged 15.4 points on 43/42/85 shooting splits.
Bertans’s shooting could boost the Knicks, who ranked 27th in the league in three-point shooting (33.3 percent) last season.
The Wizards hold his Bird Rights, meaning they can go over the cap to retain him. Wizards general manager Tommy Shepphard is hopeful they could resign him as they see him as an ideal fit next to their core of Bradley Beal and the returning John Wall.
Bertans is expected to fetch around $12-14 million annually as per ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks’ estimation.
[wpdiscuz-feedback id=”frwyjzqjyf” question=”Is Davis Bertans worth an overpay?” opened=”0″]According to Marks, the Knicks would need to pay a premium if they really intend to join the bidding war for Bertan’s services. [/wpdiscuz-feedback]
“I think he will cost $18-20 million, and they will have to overpay him,” Marks told Empire Sports Media.
The Knicks could create anywhere from $35 to $50 million in cap space, depending on what they elect to do with their team options.
Bertans is just the latest added to a long free agent list linked to the Knicks after Fred Van Vleet, Christian Wood, Justin Holiday, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Joe Harris.
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