Frank Isola: Knicks considering signing former Spurs guard Ray McCallum or former Blazers guard Tim Frazier to a 10-day contact. Jimmer not returning
More on Jimmer Fredette Free Agency
Fredette's lack of playing time has confused some fans. With the Knicks now 25-36 and 6.5 games out of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, it would seem this is the perfect opportunity to play young players such as Fredette to determine their worth. But interim coach Kurt Rambis doesn't see it that way. "There's some logic to that, to giving them some more time," Rambis said Monday. "But we still want to try and finish the season as positively as possible and win as many games as possible."
Rambis would like to win as many games as possible to enhance his chances of landing the Knicks' head-coaching job permanently. So he has decided against giving Fredette significant playing time thus far. Instead, he's giving minutes to veteran guards Jose Calderon and Sasha Vujacic, second-year guard Langston Galloway and rookie Jerian Grant.
Rambis also has basically said he wasn't on board with the idea of signing Fredette in the first place, saying that it was management's idea to bring the former BYU star on board.
Rambis alluded to potentially signing a younger player recently waived with an eye on next season, too. “Yes, yes, yes,’’ Rambis said. “Management is collecting [names], that’s what they’re doing. [They’re] talking about guys, thinking about guys, not only for this season [but] bringing guys in they might want to hold onto and bring them to summer league next year and work out during the summer. There are a lot of names floating around out there.’’
Chris Herring: Knicks officially announce 10-day deal for Jimmer Fredette.
Stefan Bondy: Heard Jimmer Fredette will join the Knicks after they return from Minnesota so good news for Westchester -- he gets to play for them today + Sun.
Ian Begley: The Knicks plan to sign Jimmer Fredette with their open roster spot, league sources tell ESPN. Story coming.
Sam Amick: Can confirm @Ian Begley intel that the Knicks plan to sign Jimmer Fredette. He'll sign a 10-day contract.
Marc Berman: Confirming Knicks will sign Jimmer but contract won't be done until after today.
The Knicks have an open roster spot and can use a point guard, but are waiting to see how the deadline shakes out. Fredette’s agents have been in contact with a few teams, not just the Knicks. “I feel I’ve definitely proven I can still play and provide something for a team out there,’’ Fredette told The Post in a phone interview Tuesday morning. “I’ve shown that. And I’m definitely confident if I do get an opportunity, I’ll be able to produce. The D-League has helped me to get better and develop as a basketball player. I hope there’ll be a team that takes notice and gives me a chance.’’
The Knicks have an open roster spot and can use a point guard, but are waiting to see how the deadline shakes out. Fredette’s agents have been in contact with a few teams, not just the Knicks. “I feel I’ve definitely proven I can still play and provide something for a team out there,’’ Fredette told The Post in a phone interview Tuesday morning. “I’ve shown that. And I’m definitely confident if I do get an opportunity, I’ll be able to produce. The D-League has helped me to get better and develop as a basketball player. I hope there’ll be a team that takes notice and gives me a chance.’’
“You never know what could happen – whether it’s the Knicks or another team,’’ Fredette said. “I’m hopeful there is a team that will arise, but I’m not positive who that will be. My agent talks to teams every day and at the All-Star break, but you never know how serious those conversations are. Maybe the Knicks will be that opportunity or some other team. We’ll see what happens in the next couple of days.’’
According to a person familiar with the club’s thought process, the available players, including point guard Tony Wroten, wouldn’t crack the rotation, so a 10-day contract would be wasteful. If a rotation player sustained a serious injury, then the club would act — possibly on Wroten or Jimmer Fredette — pending the position of need. If Lance Thomas’ left-knee injury were deemed more serious, the Knicks probably would have signed somebody.
Fredette said he and his agent are keeping a close eye on the NBA roster landscape, and some NBA teams appear to have their eye on Fredette as well. “Jimmer should be able to provide an offensive punch off the bench for an NBA team,” one longtime NBA scout said. “His defense has improved and he has become a better teammate.”
Fredette told Yahoo Sports that he considered overseas options in Italy, Greece, Serbia and Australia before joining the D-League, but the NBA is still his top option. "I am playing basketball for the love of the game, but I also want to do what’s best for my career and my family. So whatever that is, we will take that path. We will see what happens in the future,” Fredette told Yahoo Sports.
Westchester president Allan Houston, a former Knicks star, said Fredette’s D-League goals are to be efficient offensively and to improve defensively. “He came in right away with a lot of humility,” Houston told Yahoo Sports. “Early on, he was trying to figure out the system a little. He has acclimated to his teammates and he knew he would have an impact right away. He put a lot on himself early. But as time went on, what I’ve been impressed with is how he’s kind of settled in and not had to do so much. He’s been efficient. He’s been productive. His strength is playing without the ball in his hands as much. He’s competing defensively.”
One exec suggested that the best course for Fredette would be to play in Europe, make decent money and enjoy playing the game and being a star there. Another wondered where he'd find the open shots he needs to be productive in the NBA, where defensive coaches are paid handsomely to prevent them from happening.
“He's a 6-2 shooting guard, a system guy -- and all the system teams pretty much have tried him already," one of the execs said. "It's tough. It has to be a very unique situation. I never say never about anybody -- maybe someone will give him a shot and he'll turn into gold -- but I just don't see it.”
Whether it has been lack of opportunity or belief from his coaches, not enough playing time or not enough shots, the fundamental truth is that Fredette is an undersized shooting guard with one NBA skill: shooting. There simply aren't many players in that predicament who stick around for even as long as Fredette has. “He has skills, but he's a high-volume guy," one Eastern Conference executive said. "What team is going to be able to give him the kind of volume he needs to be effective? Because if he's not getting the volume of shots he needs to score enough to help you, what else is he doing?"
In Chicago, sources say, then-coach Tom Thibodeau pushed hard for the Bulls to sign him in 2014 after he was bought out by the Kings -- then, hardly played him because of his defensive limitations. In New Orleans last season, Fredette found his way into 50 games, but only got off one 3-point attempt per game, shooting 19 percent (9-for-48).
Martin Borg: Jody, honest question. Why would the Jazz not try Jimmer on a 10 day contract now? Not much to lose it would seem. Jody Genessy: If they had any interest in Jimmer, they would have selected him in the D-League draft.
Fredette said he had options other than the D-League. He could have gone to Europe, where the contracts are more lucrative. But he wants to return to the N.B.A. Asked about the perception that he has been a bust, Fredette said that people were free to their opinions. He tries not to worry about any of it. He reflected on his wandering journey. “Sometimes that happens for people in this league,” he said. “For a lot of guys in this league, actually.”
Bobby Marks: Roughly a $72k cap hit for the Pelicans
Scott Kushner: Sources: #Pelicans clear hardship waiver, add Jimmer Fredette. He will play tonight vs #Mavs.
Brett Dawson: Alvin Gentry says assuming medical exemption comes through, Jimmer Fredette is “high on our list.” That’s as committal as he’ll be today.
It didn't take long for former BYU guard Jimmer Fredette to get back in the NBA. The former BYU guard, who was selected second overall by the Westchester Knicks in the NBA D-League Draft Oct. 31 as he tries to get his basketball career back on track, signed with the New Orleans Pelicans Monday under the hardship exception, according to Yahoo!'s Shams Charania.
Shams Charania: Jimmer Fredette, 2nd pick in D-League draft, has signed with the New Orleans Pelicans under hardship exception, league sources tell Yahoo.
The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Jimmer Fredette. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not announced.
Marc Stein: ESPN sources say San Antonio is indeed finalizing a deal to sign Jimmer Fredette. Spurs are always on the lookout for shooters and want to give Fredette his shot in the San Antonio system
Adrian Wojnarowski: Free agent guard Jimmer Fredette is finalizing a training camp deal with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Spurs are searching hard for shooters, plan to give Fredette a chance to make roster. Deal includes modest financial guarantee, sources said
Emiliano Carchia: Olimpia Milano made an offer to Jimmer Fredette, according to sources
