The Knicks waived veteran and coaches' favorite Taj Gibson just days before his contract was guaranteed.
Gibson, the Knicks' oldest player and considered a strong presence in the locker room, was scouted by the Knicks in December as insurance coverage following Mitchell Robinson's surgery.
He briefly played, but was dropped from the rotation last month when Precious Achiuwa was added in a trade.
Waving Gibson frees up a roster spot for the Knicks, and the team is expected to be active before next month's trade deadline.
His $2.24 million salary would have been finalized Wednesday.
Without Gibson, the Knicks still have Achiuwa and Jericho Sims as backups.
Tom Thibodeau, who coached Gibson with three different teams, said Saturday that he “100 percent” would take over the core of the coaching staff at some point.
On the day he signed, Gibson said he also sees a future in coaching and thinks the Knicks are an ideal place to learn while playing.
“We're still considering that. But it has to be the right situation,” Gibson said. “I want to be in a place where I can learn and brighten my future. Being around a coaching staff that I can learn from is a bright spot for me. They basically taught me how to be a pro. It just fits where I can learn and just fit in.”
