Jason Smith signs one-year deal with Knicks
The Knicks made it official and signed 7-foot center Jason Smith Friday.
Smith inked a one-year deal for the $3.27 million taxpayer midlevel exception, giving the Knicks six players who are at least 6-10 under contract.
A former first-round pick of the Heat in 2007, Smith has averaged 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds over six seasons with Philadelphia and New Orleans.
Smith joins a big-man group that includes Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani, Samuel Dalembert and Cole Aldrich. Jeremy Tyler has a partial guarantee for next season.
Overall, the Knicks have commitments to 14 players. Second-round picks Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo haven't signed yet.
The Knicks only have minimum salaries to offer free agents. Team president Phil Jackson said the Knicks might not spend much more. But he wants to balance the roster so he could try to trade one or more of the Knicks' perimeter players.
The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Knicks, Madison Square Garden and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.