The New York Knicks may be paying Allonzo Trier via his two-way contract, but they couldn't afford to leave him off their opening-night roster after the preseason he put up.
If the Knicks opt to keep Trier longer than 45 days in the NBA, they will have no choice but to rip up the two-way deal and pay him at least a prorated amount of the rookie minimum of $838,464.
With Trier, the Wildcats have seven former players on active opening-night rosters, plus four inactive or injured players: Jerryd Bayless of Philadelphia, Channing Frye of Cleveland, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of Brooklyn and Lauri Markkanen of the Bulls. (However, Hollis-Jefferson may return for the Nets' opener).
In addition, Rawle Alkins is on a two-way deal with Chicago but is not on the Bulls' opening-night roster.
From last season, Arizona's total of NBA players lost Richard Jefferson, who retired, while Kobi Simmons was cut by the Cavaliers. Simmons spent last season between the Grizzlies and their G League team.
Frye and Andre Iguodala of Golden State are the only Lute Olson-era players left, though Bayless signed with Olson and ultimately played for Kevin O'Neill in 2007-08. Solomon Hill also committed to Olson, decommitted after Olson's Oct. 2008 retirement, and then recommitted to Arizona under Sean Miller.
Here's the entire list of former Wildcats on opening rosters, with their years at UA in parentheses.
ACTIVE
1. Andre Iguodala (2002-04), Golden State
2. Solomon Hill (2009-13), New Orleans
3. Aaron Gordon (2013-14), Orlando
4. Stanley Johnson (2014-15), Detroit
5. T.J. McConnell (2013-15), Philadelphia
6. Deandre Ayton (2017-18), Phoenix
7. Allonzo Trier (2015-18), New York
INACTIVE/INJURED
8. Channing Frye (2001-05), Cleveland
9. Jerryd Bayless (2007-08), Philadelphia
10. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (2013-15), Brooklyn
11. Lauri Markkanen (2016-17), Chicago
TWO-WAY CONTRACT
12. Rawle Alkins (2017-18), Chicago
