On Tuesday, Boston Celtics point guard Terry Rozier made media rounds that left little doubt about his desire to sign elsewhere in the offseason, especially if the Celtics were to bring back the same team. Many perceived Rozier’s actions as an act of self-sabotage that served the purpose of giving Boston pause about re-signing him, one that also may damage his ability to leverage on the negotiating table, but there was undeniably truth in the guard’s statements regardless of any potential ulterior motives.
Making an appearance on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby, Rozier would detail what he’s looking for in his future team as he heads towards his restricted free agency. However, prompted by a question from co-host David Jacoby, Rozier also discusses the potential of signing with the New York Knicks.
Spoiler alert: He’s certainly not opposed to that scenario.
“I definitely can [see myself playing for the Knicks]. I definitely can. This is a great organization.
Everybody knows about the New York Knicks, their sports market and everything about it. Everybody knows about the city of New York. It’ll be great. It’ll be great.”
As for what he’s looking for from his future team?
“…A team that’s going to let me be myself. A team that treats me like family and, you know, it just goes from there. I’m not a hard person to work with.. I’m a team guy, a team-first type of guy.
So whoever I decide to make that decision with I’m pretty sure it’s going to be great.”
Rozier is said to be in the Knicks’ plans if they strike out on Celtics superstar Kyrie Irving, although it’s widely thought that both Irving and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant will sign with New York at the start of free agency.
The likelihood that the Knicks will pursue both Irving and Durant has only increased after the NBA Draft Lottery, with New York slotted in at the third overall spot in the 2019 NBA Draft rather than the first overall pick they were projected to have, which went to the New Orleans Pelicans instead.
Such a scenario makes it more difficult for the Knicks to swing a trade for Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis, a move that would make New York an even more appealing for potential destination for Irving.
With the Knicks, Rozier would be an upgrade from the turnover-prone Emmanuel Mudiay on both ends, as well as Frank Ntilikina, who is a mediocre scorer though a high IQ player with solid defensive ability and briefly fell out of Knicks head coach David Fizdale’s rotation last season.
However, though New York may be willing to slightly overpay for Rozier, it’s difficult to determine his market value given his uneven play in 2018-19. Thus, it’ll be difficult for them to acquire the 25-year-old floor general if Boston is willing to match the offer.
