The Golden State Warriors are adding former New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons forward Kevin Knox to their summer league roster, as announced on June 30. The No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Knox is still just 24 years old and holds untapped potential.
This addition comes on the heels of a report from NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic, indicating that the Warriors will sign-and-trade star forward Klay Thompson, who has spent all 13 of his NBA seasons with Golden State. ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers are the top contenders for Thompson’s services.
While it’s unlikely that Knox or any other player will fully fill the void left by Thompson, Knox could be a player to watch for the Warriors this summer.
Kevin Knox: Potential Contributions to the Warriors
Kevin Knox showed promise in his rookie season with the Knicks, playing in 75 games (57 starts) and averaging 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. Despite his solid jump shot, his playing time dwindled in subsequent seasons due to repeated turnovers and frequent traveling calls.
Knox’s journey has seen him traded to the Atlanta Hawks in January 2022, then to the Detroit Pistons, and finally to the Portland Trail Blazers. Early last season, he returned to the Pistons, where he averaged 7.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in just over 18 minutes per game, shooting an impressive 46.2% from the field.
In February, Knox was traded to the Utah Jazz but was released shortly thereafter. He played in 11 G League games last season with the Rip City Remix, averaging 22.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
While Knox hasn’t fully lived up to his draft hype, his shooting percentage with the Pistons in 2023-24 was the second-highest of his career. This, combined with his young age, suggests he still has potential, especially if he finds the right team and coaching staff.
### Major Changes Ahead for the Warriors Without Klay Thompson
With Thompson potentially leaving, significant changes are on the horizon for Golden State. Thompson, a cornerstone of the Warriors’ four NBA championships since 2011, has started 742 games, averaging 19.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 41.3% from three-point range over his career. In 77 regular season games this past season, Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, leading the league in free-throw percentage (92.7%).
“Klay Thompson is set for free agency and — barring a dramatic mood shift — the Warriors and Thompson are more than prepared for his fairly imminent departure from the Bay Area,” wrote Tim Kawakami of The Athletic on June 29. “So prepared, an NBA source indicated this weekend, that some cordial goodbyes have been shared between Klay and high-ranking members of the Warriors’ organization.”
While no player can replace Thompson’s impact entirely, the Warriors will need to find capable three-point specialists to fill the gap. Knox could be part of this transitional phase, bringing his own skill set and potential to a team in the midst of significant changes.
The Warriors’ strategic moves this offseason will be critical as they aim to remain competitive in the Western Conference without one of their all-time greats. Knox’s addition to the summer league roster is just the beginning of what promises to be an eventful period for Golden State basketball.