The Knicks are "keeping an eye on" Celtics restricted free agent Terry Rozier in case Boston rescinds his rights as free agency nears, sources told SNY's Ian Begley.
New York is focused on signing top-tier free agents like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving, Begley and The Athletic's Shams Charania have reported, however Rozier could be among the players the Knicks pursue if they miss out on their top targets.
Currently a restricted free agent, the Celtics can match any offer sheet Rozier receives from an outside team. But Boston, which has been linnked to Kemba Walker, among other free agents, could face a tumultuous offseason given Irving and Al Horford are both now unrestricted free agents as well.
The 25-year-old Rozier, a point guard who averaged 9.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 79 games last season, previously expressed his interest with the Knicks when he appeared on "Jalen and Jacoby" last month.
"I definitely can [see it]," he said about possibly joining New York. "This is a great organization. Everybody knows about the New York Knicks, the sports market, the city of New York. It'd be great."
Rozier has also indicated he is looking for a change.
"Just looking for a team that's going to let me be myself, a team that treats me like family and just go from there," he said. "I'm not a hard person to work with. I'm a team-first type of guy. Whoever I decide to make that decision with it's going to be great."
The Knicks, who have enough salary cap space to sign two free agents to max contracts, are expected to meet with both Durant and Leonard when free agency begins Sunday.
After that, they are likely to meet with "second-tier free agents," a list that reportedly features names like Tobias Harris, Nikola Vucevic, DeMarcus Cousins, Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris.
And it sounds like Rozier has joined that list.