REPORT: Knicks to pick up Ariel Hukporti’s team option, decline P.J. Tucker’s

Ahead of tonight’s deadline, the Knicks make their first roster moves of the offseason.

The NBA offseason is in full swing. After the Knicks picked up Mohamed Diawara at No. 51 and signed Dink Pate as an undrafted free agent earlier in the week, they took care of some necessary team business ahead of the beginning of free agency’s tampering period on Monday night.

Ahead of the deadline for deciding contract options on Sunday at 5 p.m., the Knicks exercised the $1.96 million team option of second-year big man Ariel Hukporti and declined the $3.47 million team option of veteran forward P.J. Tucker. Both moves were as expected. Additionally, the team tendered a qualifying offer to now-restricted free agent Kevin McCullar Jr., a potential sign of his elevation to a standard contract this offseason.

Hukporti, drafted No. 58 overall in 2024, was the closest that a Knicks’ rookie got to being a key contributor in 2024-25. The 23-year-old out of Germany played 25 games, averaging 1.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.1 minutes per game. While he mostly received only garbage time action, he had several big games, including a 30-minute outing in mid-November and making his first career start on February 26th. With the expected departure of Precious Achiuwa, Hukporti figures to be in line to battle for a spot in the new coach’s rotation, wherever he is.

Tucker, signed on the buyout market in early March, played just three total games in a Knicks uniform. Signed for his veteran presence as an essential player-coach, Tucker played 26 minutes in two April games due to strategic resting before the playoffs. He even got to play the last 4:22 of the euphoric Game 6 victory in MSG against the Celtics. He was given a standard contract after two ten-day deals, with the team option never likely to be accepted. The 40-year-old scored nine total points on 3-for-7 from the field.

McCullar Jr., drafted No. 56 overall in 2024, missed almost the entire season recovering from a knee issue that originated during his time at Kansas. He appeared in just four games in his rookie season, playing 21 minutes in Game 82 in Brooklyn. In the G-League, he played 13 games, averaging 11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on some pretty… bad shooting splits.

These moves set the Knicks’ roster table as follows. They have 10 players under contract and sit just above the first apron with an estimated $11.4 million in space below the second apron. The Knicks will have the $5.9 million taxpayer mid-level exception available, but will need some maneuvering to use it all. With the low cap hit of vet minimums, the Knicks could convert McCullar to a standard contract and roster either Diawara, Pate, or Eurostash James Nnaji on the ultra-cheap second-round exception. If they do both of those, they should have room to sign a vet min and use the TPMLE.

Around the league, notable names like Mo Wagner (Magic), Lonnie Walker IV (Sixers), Dorian Finney-Smith (Lakers), and Nic Batum (Clippers) will enter free agency due to declined options.