One more former Celtics player is joining Boston’s rival this offseason as free agent wing Matt Ryan is signing an Exhibit 10 deal with the Knicks to compete for a roster spot during training camp next month. Ryan spent a chunk of last season with the Knicks as well, both on a standard deal and a two-way contract before he was released on March 1.
The 28-year-old appeared in 19 games but played just 68 total minutes, posting 1.5 points per game in mop-up duty. Ryan got his first chance in the NBA with the Celtics back in 2022, appearing in one game during the team’s run to the NBA Finals.
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Since then, Ryan has bounced around the league, playing for four teams over the past three seasons, including the Lakers, Wolves, and Pelicans. He’s been a reliable 3-point shooting weapon over that stretch, knocking down 40.2 percent of his 3-point attempts, but his limitations defensively have led to just 82 appearances over his four-year NBA career.
Ryan joins multiple former Celtics in Knicks training camp including Guerschon Yabusele and Malcolm Brogdon. Yabusele signed for a portion of the mid-level exception with New York on a two-year deal, while Brogdon is on an Exhibit 9 deal in hopes of earning a roster spot.
Given the heavy veteran competition in place for roster spots (Landry Shamet, Garrison Matthews, Alex Len, Brogdon), Ryan will have long odds to make the 15-man roster. However, if he elects to join the Knicks G-League affiliate after being cut, he will get an $85,000 bonus if he stays with the team for 90 days.
The Knicks open training camp with three open spots available on their 15-man roster with six players competing for those spots unless a trade is made. It’s possible New York will elect to keep a roster spot open as well when the season begins. If the Knicks want to keep multiple veterans, they will need to open some cap room to stay under the first apron while adding two veterans’s minimum contracts to their books.
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