NBA Free Agency Rumors: Knicks Linked to 6 Under-The-Radar Free Agent Targets

We've heard over the past few days that the New York Knicks don't have much interest in tearing the team apart in a Kevin Durant trade. But they do have some work to do this summer adding pieces to the roster.

According to James L. Edwards III in The Athletic, finances will be an issue, as they will likely have only the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception to offer, before "rounding out the roster with minimum deals". Edwards writes that there are "rumblings" of several under-the-radar free agents that the Knicks could be eyeing that would fit this plan:

Midlevel Exception:

Luke Kennard

The long-range shooting specialist, Kennard has spent the past 2 1/2 seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, but his one-year, $9.2 million deal is up, and with an astounding 43.8% career mark from three-point range, he'll be in demand this summer. And in addition to his incredible marksmanship, per Edwards, Kennard "sneakily could be a secondary or tertiary ballhandler for New York, which desperately needs that skill set on its roster."

Edwards admits that the $5.7M MLE might not get it done, but "he is a CAA client, so maybe New York and its CAA army works some magic."

Other options he names for the MLE if they can't get Kennard done:

Spencer Dinwiddie
Trey Lyles
Al Horford

Minimum Deals ($2.378M for players with 3+ yrs experience):

Delon Wright
Landry Shamet

Edwards says he "wouldn't be shocked" if the Knicks brought back Wright or Shamet. Getting back to that 'secondary or tertiary ballhandler' need, Wright, 33, played 16.4 minutes off the bench in his 14-game trial with New York this past season. He's a sizeable combo guard who does a little playmaking and provides some solid defense.

Shamet, 28, another shooting guard, played 50 games with the Knicks this past season, and can fill it up from long range, with a career 38.5% mark from beyond the arc.