from: img.phombo.com

On Saturday morning, the Knicks went on a bit of signing binge. Within the same day they agreed to training camp deals with Jamel Artis, Nigel Hayes, and Xavier Rathan-Mayes. All three have been signed to one-year, partially-guaranteed contracts. Amidst everything else going on with the organization, what do these signings even mean?

Artis, Hayes, and Rathan-Mayes are young players whose signings fit the Knicks’ new narrative. With the Knicks intent on developing and (apparently) acquiring young talent there is a new culture burgeoning in the Big Apple. Aside from the signings of Ramon Sessions and Michael Beasley, the Knicks have forged a rather young roster to surround Kristaps Porzingis. With the team now over the roster limit cuts are more than likely in the near future for the team.

The Knicks are currently holding 22 players on their roster. Each team is only allowed to invite 20 players to training camp and maintain 15 players on the roster throughout the year. Additionally, teams are extended an extra two spots to allow for players to fluctuate between the NBA roster and the G-League. That gives the Knicks a total of 17 available spots for 22 different players. The top guys like Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. have nothing to worry about. The guys at the bottom of the roster may just find themselves left out of the team’s 2017-2018 plans.

At the bare minimum, the Knicks are going to have to cut two players, followed by another three after training camp. With Rathan-Mayes, Hayes, and Artis all signed to partially-guaranteed contracts, there is no certainty that the three will live out the prospective year in a Knicks’ jersey.  The organization has until the end of August to decide on their initial cuts. With young players at the heart of the organization’s next steps, perhaps these new players will be able to find a home at the Garden. By the beginning of the preseason whoever is left on the roster will determine the culture that the team is looking to embrace going forward. With any luck, Rathan-Mayes, Hayes, and Artis will be a part of it.