NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Signing Mindaugas Kuzminskas From Europe

More international flavor is headed to the NBA. According to FanSided, the New York Knicks are signing Mindaugas Kuzminskas. The team is hoping that he can provide their bench with a stretch forward for a couple of minutes a game. Based on his play in Europe, Kuzminskas has potential to join the rotation.

After missing the NBA Playoffs last season, the New York Knicks knew that they needed to make some changes to their roster so that they do not face the same fate next season. Team president Phil Jackson has been especially busy this summer because he wants to prove to Knicks fans that he’s serious about turning the team around.

Thus far, the New York Knicks have acquired Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, and Willy Hernangomez. The team also retained the services of Lance Thomas. With more bench power needed, Phil Jackson was able to convince Mindaugas Kuzminskas to leave Europe.

ESPN's @franfraschilla on Hernangomez (a banger) & Kuzminskas (good athlete, can guard multiple positions). More: https://t.co/MlCiGP3TlW

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 6, 2016

Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Willy Hernangomez are both leaving Europe to join the New York Knicks, as reported by ESPN. That gives the franchise a trio of young international players who have a lot of promise and could become the core of the Knicks for years to come.

Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez have played together before. That should help develop chemistry quicker than usual. It also helps that the two of them are good friends. That gives Porzingis someone to hang out with on the road. The relationship between Porzingis and Hernangomez could prove to be quite fruitful for the New York Knicks.

Mindaugas Kuzminskas should benefit from the presence of Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez. Porzingis already knows a thing or two about making the transition to living in the United States. Kuzminskas and Hernangomez could share their experience together, which makes it a little easier.

According to the New York Post, Jeff Hornacek has already been impressed with Kristaps Porzingis. He will now be tasked with figuring out what Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Willy Hernangomez can bring to the New York Knicks. The trio is young, so there’s no rush for Hornacek to get them on the floor.

In Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Jeff Hornacek has someone could become a very dynamic player. At 6’9?, 220-pounds, Kuzminskas can defend and play small forward and power forward. He can shoot the ball well from the perimeter, and he is a capable ball handler who can drive to the basket.

It’ll be interesting to see when Jeff Hornacek will play Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Kristaps Porzingis, and Willy Hernangomez together on the front court. It’s doubtful that they will all be starting, but Hornacek can utilize the all-European lineup in his rotation at some point during the season.

According to the New York Post, the New York Knicks are now an NBA Playoffs team. Some are even projecting the Knicks to become one of the four best teams in the Eastern Conference thanks to all of their new additions.

Earlier in the summer, rumors swirled that Phil Jackson was planning his exit from the New York Knicks. He proved that he was in it for the long haul by building a team that can compete for an NBA Championship immediately. If the Knicks can get go far into the playoffs, then Jackson will more than likely remain as the highest paid executive in the National Basketball Association.

Mindaugas Kuzminskas is hoping that he can be a part of the New York Knicks revival. At the very least, he wants to prove that he can make it in the NBA.

[Photo by Michel Spingler/AP Images]