Knicks Waiving Denzel Valentine, Acquired In Deal With Cavs

The Knicks intend to waive shooting guard Denzel Valentine, allowing him to become a free agent, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Valentine was acquired by the Knicks on Monday as part of a three-way trade that sent Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo to the Cavaliers.

Valentine, 28, is 6-foot-4 and averaged 2.9 points in 22 appearances in his first season in Cleveland. He will be free agent if he is waived and goes 48 hours without going unclaimed on the waiver wire — though he’ll be ineligible to return to the Cavs for one calendar year.

Valentine was named AP Player of the Year as a senior at Michigan State in 2016. He was then selected by the Bulls with the No. 14 overall pick in the NBA draft that followed.

He averaged 7.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in four seasons with Chicago, appearing in 232 regular-season games overall.