New York Knicks waive 5 players including Jeremy Tyler
By Brad Rowland
The New York Knicks invested in several (relatively) big name training camp invitees this season, but on Friday, they made a massive roster cut in one fell swoop.
On the surface, it may seem like these are surprising cuts. After all, each of the 5 players would be known to most NBA diehards, but after a second look, there are no true surprises, thanks to the use of non-guaranteed contracts.
Jeremy Tyler is perhaps the biggest “surprise”, as the big man was signed well before training camp began, but he suffered a crucial injury that caused him to miss more than 2 months of action, and that was likely his downfall. The other guy who generated buzz about a potential roster spot was Douglas-Roberts, as the Knicks are famously short-handed on the wing with JR Smith banged-up, and “CDR” has appeared in 161 NBA games with solid numbers including 7.5 points per game for his career.
Diogu, Leslie, and Powell are each interesting names for different reasons. Diogu is a guy that many (including myself) like a lot, but he can’t seem to find steady work thanks to a checkered injury history and an undersized frame, while Leslie flamed out from “lottery pick” to “2nd-rounder” to “roster cut”. Lastly, Powell is a 6-year NBA veteran, but he’s been out of the league since 2011, and it appears he’s headed back overseas.
The Knicks have trimmed their roster, and it’s time to focus on the future in New York.