Guerschon Yabusele’s New Deal With the Knicks

Guerschon Yabusele is likely to sign a contract that’s a bit less than the full Midlevel Exception for the upcoming season. This adjustment opens up extra cap space for the Knicks, enabling them to potentially add another player on a veteran minimum deal.

Confirmation of the Yabusele signing will come once the moratorium ends on Sunday, with the contract presumably spanning two years and around $12 million, including player options for the second year.

The Knicks typically utilize mid-level exceptions to handle contracts, but there’s a need for $2.23 million in cap space to execute the veteran minimum trade.

They might obtain this funding by signing Yabusele alongside one of their second-round draft picks.

This offseason, several free agents can sign for the veteran minimum, including three players who were with the Knicks last season: Landry Shamet, Cam Payne, and Delon Wright. Notably, names like Ben Simmons, Malcolm Brogdon, and Javonte Green are also available.

Interestingly, the Knicks have already reached out to Simmons, though their level of interest remains unclear.

Going back to Yabusele, he seems to have a good feeling about joining the Knicks. He mentioned, “I think the Knicks were a great decision. Their team really feels like it matches my DNA. To fight, play hard, to be like the underdog who fights every night.”

At 29, Yabusele impressed many with his performance for France during the 2024 Olympics, having previously played for the Sixers last season. While he wanted to return to Philadelphia, the team ultimately let him go in free agency.

It’s reported that the Sixers only offered him a minimum contract of $2.6 million. Yabusele expressed that there were no hard feelings but felt the offer was disappointingly low, stating, “I felt like, ‘Oh, my god, guys, you’re really trying to keep yourself from me.’ That was the situation.”