The Knicks are making moves-and not just on the court.
New York is set to bring in Jeremy Sochan on a veteran’s minimum deal for the rest of the season, pending his clearance from waivers. The front office likes what he brings to the table: defensive versatility, intriguing upside, and the kind of ball-handling ability that fits right into Tom Thibodeau’s switch-heavy, positionless schemes. Sochan, a former lottery pick, is still just scratching the surface of his potential, and the Knicks are betting on that ceiling.
But this signing didn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s the result of some savvy cap maneuvering.
Guerschon Yabusele agreed to decline his $5.8 million player option for next season-a move driven by his desire to get back on the floor. That opened the door for New York to flip him to Chicago for Dalen Terry.
From there, they packaged Terry’s $5.4 million salary with a pair of second-round picks and sent them to New Orleans in exchange for Jose Alvarado, whose $4.5 million cap hit gave the Knicks just enough flexibility to make a buyout signing right away instead of waiting until season’s end.
Sochan became available after reaching a buyout with the Spurs, who were willing to let him walk once he had a new team lined up. And the Knicks didn’t hesitate-they pounced.
Jose Alvarado: Instant Impact
Speaking of Alvarado, it didn’t take long for the Brooklyn native to make his presence felt in a Knicks uniform. In a blowout win over the Sixers, Alvarado showed exactly why New York brought him in.
After a hard foul on Mitchell Robinson by Philadelphia’s Trendon Watford, Alvarado stepped in-both physically and emotionally. He didn’t like the extra stare Watford gave after the foul and let him know about it.
“I’m just not gonna go for none of that,” Alvarado said postgame. “It was just in the moment.
That’s when I’m at my best, I guess-getting a little active. It worked out in my favor.”
That’s putting it mildly.
Alvarado erupted for a season-high 26 points in just 19 minutes, tying his career high with eight threes while adding five steals, four assists, and three rebounds. He was a +35 on the night-an eye-popping number that speaks to his energy and impact on both ends of the floor.
Josh Hart summed it up best: “That’s what we need. That’s what we want from him.
Obviously that toughness, ability to help us get organized, ability to knock down shots. And defensively, bring energy, bring physicality, get in the passing lanes-those kinds of things.
That’s why he’s here.”
Mohamed Diawara Steps Up
Another bright spot for the Knicks has been rookie forward Mohamed Diawara. With OG Anunoby sidelined, Diawara has seen more minutes than expected-and he’s making the most of them.
At just 20 years old, Diawara has impressed teammates with his poise and two-way potential. Josh Hart, who saw flashes of talent during training camp, is now seeing those flashes turn into real production.
“In camp, I thought he was going to be real good,” Hart said. “He’s young, raw and inexperienced.
He’s good defensively, and he’s an even better shooter than I thought. It always looked good, but now it’s going in.”
Diawara’s blend of athleticism, decision-making, and finishing ability is giving the Knicks something they didn’t necessarily expect this early in his development. And in a season where depth is being tested, that kind of internal growth matters.
Looking Ahead
Fred Katz and James L. Edwards III recently revisited their preseason take that the Knicks would make the NBA Finals.
While both writers are still sticking to that prediction, they admit it doesn’t feel quite as certain as it did a few months ago. That’s understandable-injuries, midseason trades, and the ever-changing Eastern Conference landscape have made this one of the more unpredictable playoff races in recent memory.
Still, the Knicks have put themselves in position to compete. The additions of Alvarado and Sochan bring toughness, defense, and depth-three things that matter in the postseason. And if players like Diawara can continue to develop on the fly, this team might have more internal upside than we realized.
Midseason Grades
In a recent breakdown of the roster, Jalen Brunson earned the only straight-A grade at the midway point of the season-a nod to his consistency, leadership, and All-Star-level production. Josh Hart and Landry Shamet weren’t far behind with A-minus marks, while head coach Mike Brown got a B for his work so far. Leon Rose’s offseason moves came in at a C-minus, suggesting there’s still room for improvement in the front office’s long-term planning, even as the team competes in the short term.
Bottom line? The Knicks are in the thick of it.
They’ve got toughness, talent, and a front office that’s staying aggressive. With the East wide open, New York’s not just hoping to make noise-they’re building a roster that might be ready to roar.