Knicks sign second-round pick Fields

The Knicks signed second-round pick Landry Fields Thursday to a two-year contract that will start off at a guaranteed $500,000 in the first season. The move puts the Knicks at 14 signed players, one fewer than the NBA maximum.

The 6-7 shooting guard from Stanford was one of two second-round picks (39th overall) by the Knicks in the June draft. Very much an unknown as an NBA prospect despite being one of the top scorers in the Pac-10 last season, Fields opened many eyes to his potential in the NBA Summer League in July, playing five games and averaging a team-best 15.6 points in 25.9 minutes.

Fields will be behind two veterans at the two-guard spot - Roger Mason and Kelenna Azubuike - but he also can play small forward, though that position also is loaded with young veterans such as Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler.

The Knicks signed their other second-round pick, Andy Rautins, on Aug. 12. Rautins was selected one spot ahead of Fields at No. 38 overall.

The Knicks picked up a third second-round pick after the draft when they purchased the rights to center Jerome Jordan from the Bucks. Jordan is close to agreeing to a contract with a team in Serbia, which means he will go to Europe this season rather than compete for a roster spot with the Knicks. The team will retain his rights.

With the 14 players under contract for 2010-11, it is expected the team will invite some unsigned veterans to camp and see if anyone emerges to fill the 15th spot, though team president Donnie Walsh might prefer to keep the spot open for flexibility.

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