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Analyst Names Knicks’ Key Free Agent Signing Among Top Offseason Moves

Jul 17, 2025 11:06 PM EDT

The New York Knicks entered the offseason looking to upgrade their depth as they try to take advantage of a weakened Eastern Conference next season and chase a championship.

Of course, the Knicks’ main problem last season was their bench and with their starting five of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges returning, that is what they focused on this summer.

New York Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns

During free agency, the Knicks singed Jordan Clarkson after he was bought out by the Utah Jazz and they also landed Guerschon Yabusele after the Philadelphia 76ers let him walk.

Both of these moves were made to upgrade their second unit and CBS Sports’ Brad Botkin recently named one of them as one of the best moves any team has made so far this offseason.

“First the Knicks got Jordan Clarkson as the microwave scorer, but the move I really like is Guerschon Yabusele, who was quietly super sound for the 76ers last season. This is a 14-and-7 guy per 36 minutes, and his 50/38 shooting splits give the Knicks some breathing room in lineups where he potentially plays in place of Josh Hart as the shooter defenses can’t ignore,” Botkin wrote. “No matter what lineups he’s a part of, Yabusele is a quality bench guy who can shoot and defend, even above his weight class, which means Brown should be able to lighten the starters’ loads without much, if any, falloff.”

It is clear that Botkin believes that Yabusele was a great addition to the Knicks’ bench and for good reason.

Last season, the 29-year-old Frenchman impressed in his first season back in the NBA since 2018-19 as he played a key role for the 76ers, especially with Joel Embiid missing time.

Now he joins a Knicks squad that was in desperate need of another big man off the bench and he will give them another reliable scorer and defender in their second unit, something they lacked last season, as they try to chase a title next season.