It sure sounds like Josh Hart wants Donte DiVincenzo to leave the Golden State Warriors this summer and sign with the New York Knicks. Hart told NBA insider Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report he would love to share the court with another Villanova guy.
Hart and Jalen Brunson played with DiVincenzo at Villanova. DiVincenzo can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2023-24 player option with the Warriors. If that happens, don’t be surprised if we hear rumors about Hart and Brunson recruiting DiVincenzo to the Knicks.
The 26-year-old DiVincenzo averaged 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Warriors this season in 72 games. The NBA champion shot 43.5% from the field, 39.7% from beyond the arc and 81.7% from the free-throw line. DiVincenzo made 150 3-pointers for the Warriors, who lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games.
The Knicks need more shooters, so DiVincenzo projects to be a good fit in New York, who lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in six games. DiVincenzo has career averages of 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists with the Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings and Warriors.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Josh Hart, New York Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo & Golden State Warriors Updates
The Knicks acquired Hart from the Portland Trail Blazers on February 9. The 28-year-old averaged 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 25 games with New York while shooting 58.6% from the floor, 51.9% from beyond the arc and 78.9% from the free-throw line. Hart told Rooks he plans to decline his 2023-24 player option worth $12.9 million and become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
However, he wants to stay with the Knicks.
“I love New York,” Hart said. “I love the team. I love the coaching staff, the front office that we have. We got young guys, draft picks, all those sort of things. So I mean, obviously that would be an ideal place for me to just re-sign there and do that.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Josh Hart, New York Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo & Golden State Warriors Updates
“Everything’s perfect on the court, off the court. With family being close to home, doing all those kinds of things. So fingers crossed that when free agency starts, I’ll say a deal gets done, hopefully in the first day or two. I would love for that to be home.”
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