Omer Yurtseven had a great rookie season with the Miami Heat in 2021-22. But then, an ankle injury kept him out for most of his second year. The Utah Jazz picked him up on a two-year deal but decided to waive him at the start of free agency.
An NBA executive told Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney that Yurtseven might be what the Knicks need as an Isaiah Hartenstein replacement. โFor what they need, he might be a really good fit,โ said the executive. โHis defense has always been a question mark, but they did a good job with Hartenstein on that and I think they could get there with him. Omer, when we have seen him, very active on the glass, a pretty good scorer, and if you want someone you can bring off the bench and be a contrast to what you get with (Mitchell) Robinson, I think youโd have to consider him.โ
Yurtseven is 26 years old and would be a project for the Knicks. He fits Tom Thibodeau’s style well because he is tall , plays tough defense, rebounds well, and sets hard screens.
Possible Fit for Knicks:
New York has made several moves in free agency already. Their spending power is now limited. Signing Yurtseven on a small deal could help them rebuild his value during the season.
Thibodeau is known for giving players clear roles so they can succeed under his guidance. Fans might think this move shows how much trust Thibodeau has in his system to develop players like he did with Hartenstein.
If Yurtseven works out well, he could become a reliable bench player on a team-friendly contract. If not, releasing him wouldn’t hurt their budget much.
Yurtseven averages 5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in his career so far. It makes sense for the Knicks to see if adding him would benefit their roster.
What do you think about Yurtseven joining the Knicks?
