The Knicks are trading one of their young centers as part of a three-team deal.
SNY’s Ian Begley confirms that New York will send Jericho Sims and the draft rights to Mathias Lessort to the Bucks as part of the Milwaukee and Washington Wizards’ trade that included Khris Middleton and Kyle Kuzma.
Begley reported Wednesday that the Houston Rockets had interest in Sims, but there wasn’t a big market for him.
In return, the Knicks are receiving Delon Wright, the draft rights to Hugo Besson, and cash considerations from the Bucks.
Sims, 26, is owed $2 million in the final year of his contract and will now provide center depth for the Bucks.
After being drafted in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft (58th overall), Sims appeared in 41 games (five starts). Sims had his best season a year later, playing in 52 games (16 starts) while averaging 3.4 points on 77 percent shooting, 4.7 rebounds and nearly a block a game.
He would go on to participate in the 2023 Slam Dunk contest but just could not find a place with the Knicks. With Mitchell Robinson cementing his status as the starting center and now on the verge of returning from injury, Sims became expendable, especially with his diminishing role off of Tom Thibodeau‘s bench.
Precious Achiuwa was acquired from the Raptors last year and is a power forward/center combo off the bench, while the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns, and the emergence of rookie Ariel Hukporti limited Sims’ opportunities this season.
In just 39 games (five starts) this season, Sims has posted career-lows in minutes (10.8), field goal percentage (61 percent) and points (1.6).
