Knicks Sign DaQuan Jeffries, Mamadi Diakite to 10-Day Contracts – NBA Tracker
The New York Knicks announced on Thursday that DaQuan Jeffries and Mamadi Diakite to 10-day contracts.
Jeffries has been in and out of the Knicks’ system over the past two years and appeared in 13 games with the NBA club earlier this season. In that (playing just under three minutes a game), Jeffries averaged 0.8 points and 0.4 rebounds while getting most of his work done on the G League level, where he’s putting up 22 and 5.9 respectively in 14 regular season appearances with Westchester.
Joining Jeffries is Diakite, who was also stationed in Westchester and averaging 12 points and 8.6 rebounds in seven showings. Diakite previously made 14 appearances with the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship group in 2021 and also partook in three games with the San Antonio Spurs earlier this season.
MARCH 12 PAYNE REPORTEDLY FIRED BY LOUISVILLE
Per insider Jeff Goodman of Field of 68, the Lousiville Cardinals men’s basketball program is expected to part ways with head coach Kenny Payne.
The 57-year-old spent the first two seasons of the New York Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau era as an assistant coach and struggled mightily at the helm of the Cardinals, going 12-53 in two seasons (including 5-35 in ACC play). If this is truly the end for Payne, his tenure ended with a 94-85 loss to North Carolina State in the opening round of the ACC Tournament.
MARCH 11 MAXEY RETURNS FOR DOUBLEHEADER CLOSER VS KNICKS
The Philadelphia 76ers will be taking it to the Max as they go for a sweep of a speedy doubleheader with the New York Knicks on Tuesday night (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Maxey has cleared concussion protocol and will return on Tuesday against the Knicks after a four-game absence. Maxey, fresh off All-Star honors, is averaging 26 points and a team-best 6.3 assists and has mostly been tasked with carrying the load in the wake of Joel Embiid’s continued departure.
Philadelphia (36-28) currently ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt after earning a 79-73 victory over the Knicks on Sunday night at MSG. Tuesday’s game will be the fourth and final meeting between the divisional rivals this season.
MARCH 9 PACERS’ MATHURIN DONE FOR THE YEAR
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Indiana Pacers will lose rising star Bennedict Mathurin for the rest of the season. The sophomore depth piece has opted to undergo shoulder surgery, was averaging 14.5 points on over 44 percent shooting in 59 appearances this season.
Indiana (35-29) is at the tail-end of a five-team logjam led by the Knicks in a train that takes up the fourth-through-eighth spots in the current Eastern Conference standings. The Pacers face No. 5 Orlando on Sunday evening (6 p.m. ET, Bally Sports Indiana).
MARCH 6 GIBSON SIGNS 10-DAY WITH PISTONS
In a bit of a twist, the Detroit Pistons are now signing former New York Knicks.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Detroit is set to sign Taj Gibson to a 10-day contract. Gibson, 38, previously signed two such deals with the Knicks and averaged 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 points in 16 appearances this season. Prior to his Detroit entry, Gibson hinted that he would mind yet another stop with the Knicks, who previously hosted him for three full seasons (2019-22).