Two New York Knicks On The Bubble Have Their Contracts Guaranteed

Any player still on an NBA roster as of 5:00pm Eastern today now has their contract guaranteed for the remainder of the season. Two New York Knicks who many thought were on the bubble can now breathe easier. 

Knicks are keeping Svi Mykhailiuk and Ryan Arcidiacono, according to a league source. Both of their contracts were set to become guaranteed if the Knicks did not waive them by 5pm ET today. @StevePopper first with the news.

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) January 7, 2023

Both Svi Mykhailiuk and Ryan Arcidiacono will remain Knicks for the foreseeable future. Head coach Tom Thibodeau recently praised the work of both players, calling them "invaluable."

“As far as I’m concerned from my end, both guys have been terrific,” Thibodeau said, per Ian Begley of SNY. “They’re invaluable to us. Just the way their attitude and approach, whether it’s practice, the game, they’re fully engaged. They make things go well. They can fill in. They bring energy every day. So they both have helped us a lot. So I’ve been very pleased with them.”

Yes, hearing the coach talk about you like that is usually a pretty good sign you aren't going anywhere. 

Mykhailiuk has bounced around the NBA, the Knicks being his 5th team in five years. He hasn't played much in Thibodeau's rotation, getting into just 12 games, and only 3.3 minutes per contest, averaging just 1.8 points. But Tibs calls him "invaluable", so he stays. He's making $1.9M. 

Arcidiacono, earning $2.1M, has gotten even less run, playing in just 10 games, at 2.5 minutes per contest. He's made one basket all season—a three—but, like with Mykhailiuk, the energy he brings at practice and on the bench has bought him a full season with New York. 

Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports