Knicks cut Cleanthony Early, Lou Amundson, Chasson Randle, two others
Cleanthony Early of the New York Knicks controls the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Mar. 7, 2015. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Knicks trimmed their roster to 15 players today, as they cut Chasson Randle, J.P. Tokoto, Cleanthony Early, Damien Inglis and veteran Lou Amundson.
That means center Marshall Plumlee, guard Ron Baker and forward Maurice Ndour made the team. Plumlee and Ndour were signed to fully guaranteed deals over the summer, while Baker received a partial guarantee.
Randle, Tokoto, Early and Inglis could resurface on the Knicks’ D-League team in Westchester, provided they don’t get offers from other NBA teams or go overseas. Amundson, who was given a fully guaranteed one-year deal, was expendable since the Knicks have a glut of big men in a league that’s playing smaller.
Kristaps Porzingis, Joakim Noah, Kyle O’Quinn, Willy Hernangomez and Plumleee all are at least 6-foot-10.
The Knicks liked Randle and were eyeing him to be their third point guard. But he suffered a left orbital fracture during the preseason and is out at least another 2-3 weeks.
Now, the Knicks likely will use Sasha Vujacic as the third point guard behind Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings and have Baker for insurance.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
