The chief reason swingman Thanasis Antetokounmpo of Greece decided to pass on a lucrative contract in Italy to play for $25,000 in the D-League for the Westchester Knicks was for this potential moment.
In convincing Antetokounmpo to stay in Westchester and not sign in Europe for a two-year, $500,000 pact, president Phil Jackson told the 2014 second-round pick there would be an outside chance of him being signed to the Knicks roster late in the season.
Though Antetokounmpo has become a roster candidate, the Knicks are still very much on the fence right now about signing the older brother of Giannis “Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo.