The New York Knicks exercised their option on Allonzo Trier after his rookie season was a pleasant surprise for the team.
Allonzo Trier‘s meteoric rise from undrafted free agent to electric rookie was an unexpected development in the 2018-19 season. The New York Knicks seem intent on making Trier a part of their future after picking up his $3.5 million team option, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Trier was originally signed to a two-way contract and the plan was to let him develop with the Westchester Knicks. However, early on in training camp, head coach David Fizdale knew Trier was playing his way onto the 15-man roster.
Trier finished the season with per game averages of 10.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 64 games. The undrafted Arizona Wildcat was far more productive than anyone expected.
However, the “undrafted” label is a bit misleading. There was interest around Trier in the second round, but he advised teams to stay away. His faith in the Knicks is paying off now that they are giving him another year to prove himself.
Of course, he flashed tons of upside as a rookie, but he has a long way to go. He still has a tendency to put the blinders on when he has the ball in his hands. He’s a dynamic scorer, no doubt, but his proclivity for ball-stopping caused some friction with his teammates throughout the season.
Furthermore, his defense could stand to improve, but it’s hard to place all the blame on Trier when the Knicks’ defense was a dumpster fire for most of the season. It’s up to the coaching staff to develop Trier into the type of player that can contribute on a championship roster.
