NBA teams
Chris Broussard, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Derrick Williams to join Knicks on two-year, $10 million deal

NBA, New York Knicks

The New York Knicks continued to add through free agency by reaching an agreement Friday with forward Derrick Williams.

The deal is for two years and $10 million, league sources said, and includes a player option for the second year.

Williams thanked Sacramento fans for their support before confirming the Knicks accord Friday night on Twitter:

Earlier on Friday, the Knicks gained a commitment from center Robin Lopez, who agreed to a four-year, $54 million contract with New York after fellow free agent DeAndre Jordan passed on the Knicks to agree to a contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

On Thursday, New York agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with guard Arron Afflalo.

New York has approximately $2.5 million in cap space left to spend in free agency. The club also has access to the $2.8 million room exception.

Williams, an unrestricted free agent, has been a bust since the Minnesota Timberwolves made him the second overall pick in the 2011 draft. The power forward has averaged just 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in his four seasons, paltry numbers for a player the Wolves had counted on to be the foundation of their future.

That never happened, and Minnesota was quick to cut ties with the former Arizona standout, trading him to the Sacramento Kings in November 2013.

Williams wasn't much better in Sacramento, and after a zero-rebound game in April, coach George Karl said of his 6-foot-8 power forward: "You shouldn't be playing 20 minutes a game and not get a rebound. I mean, the Coke machine can get a rebound some nights."

Williams did perk up some down the stretch in 2014-15, averaging 14.8 points and one 3-pointer per game. Whether the 24-year-old can continue that into next season with the Knicks will be the question.

ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley contributed to this report.

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