The New York Knicks have reached an agreement with Yugoslavian guard Sasha Vujacic, according to Shams Charania of RealGM. The deal is for one year and is believed to be a training camp invite.
Vujacic, 31, hasn’t been in the league since the 2013-2014 season when he played just two games for the Los Angeles Clippers on a 10-day contract. Before that very short stint, he played during the 2010-2011 season for the Los Angeles Lakers but was traded to the then-New Jersey Nets.
After playing for the Nets, Vujacic was unable to find an NBA contract, which led him to sign overseas in Turkey with Anadolu Efes. When Vujacic’s return to the NBA didn’t work out with the Clippers in 2014, he once again traveled overseas to play for various European teams.
Now with another opportunity in the NBA, Vujacic will look to seize it. Playing in New York will probably give Vujacic the best chance to stick in the league. Firstly, he will be reunited with his former teammate Derek Fisher, who is New York’s head coach. Secondly, he will also be reunited with his former head coach Phil Jackson, who is the president of the Knicks.
Having ties with the Knicks organization is definitely a positive sign for the two-time champion. Vujacic could supply three-point shooting and a ton of energy off the bench if he is able to make the roster. During his time with the Lakers, he was valued for his efficient long-ball shooting, earning him the nickname ‘The Machine’. Defensively, Vujacic is extremely pesky and tends to get under players’ skin.
When Vujacic played half a season for the Nets, he averaged career-highs of 11.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 28.5 minutes per game, earning 17 starts as well. With any luck, the Knicks may just keep him to have extra depth in their backcourt.