Knicks make predictable free agency move to strengthen Villanova bond

If you blinked, you would’ve missed Ryan Arcidiacono’s brief stint in Portland after the New York Knicks traded him to the Trail Blazers as part of the Josh Hart deal. New York merely swapped one former Villanova star for another.

The Knicks’ lone free agency move was signing Donte DiVincenzo to a four-year deal. New York addressed its need for a three-point shooter and added the player Jalen Brunson won two championships with as a Wildcat.

The Knicks had yet to fill their 15th roster spot, and there were questions about whether or not the front office would sign a backup power forward after losing Obi Toppin in early July. At long last, there’s now an answer.

On Friday afternoon, New York announced that the team signed free agent Ryan Arcidiacono. Just like that, the 29-year-old guard is back.

Knicks sign former guard Ryan Arcidiacono to increase Villanova roster total to four

There are already nine players on the roster that should make up Tom Thibodeau’s nine-man rotation, so it makes sense why New York opted to bring back Ryan Arcidiacono. He’s a locker room signing, typically the role of the 15th man on the roster.

He played nine games (four starts) for Portland at the end of last season, nearly half the amount of games he played for New York from 2021 to 2023. Unfortunately, Arcidiacono’s time with the Trail Blazers didn’t go as hoped, as he was waived on April 1.

SNY’s Ian Begley wrote on September 1 that as long as Arcidiacono and Taj Gibson are around, they will be considered for a Knicks roster spot. Gibson re-signed a one-year deal with the Wizards on Friday morning, and Arcidiacono was the next domino to fall.

New York now has four former Villanova players on its roster, not quite (tall) enough to fill out a starting five. Mikal Bridges has to be looking over the bridge, wondering when Leon Rose will sign him. In all honesty, Bridges won’t be a free agent until 2026, and there’s no way the Nets would trade him to the Knicks before then.

Welcome back to New York, Ryan Arcidiacono! Brunson, Hart, and DiVincenzo have been waiting for you.

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• Published on 09/15/2023 at 5:12 PM EDT
• Last updated on 09/15/2023 at 5:12 PM EDT