The New York Knicks had interest in Nicolas Batum during the 2016 offseason.

New York envisioned adding both Batum and Joakim Noah to their starting lineup. Batum would have to take less money than the five-year, $120 million deal he signed with the Charlotte Hornets while also adapting to the usage rates of Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony.

“There were options with other teams and different scenarios. But I tried to look at what suited me best, and look at this franchise long term. Having Kemba (Walker) under contract, having MKG (Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) under contract, having Frank [Kaminsky] under contract, having Coach Clifford under contract, we have the same core.

“Me personally, I won’t change my game. I got paid because I play a certain way, and especially with this team.”

The Knicks eventually signed Courtney Lee, who finished last season with the Hornets.

The New York Knicks have waived guards Chasson Randle and J.P. Tokoto and forwards Lou Amundson, Cleanthony Early and Damien Inglis.

The roster now stands at 15 players.

Randle, 6-2, 185-pounds, was signed as an undrafted free agent on Aug. 4, 2016 and appeared in three preseason games, averaging 7.7 points over 15.7 minutes. Tokoto, 6-6, 200-pounds, was signed on Aug. 1, 2016 and appeared in three preseason games, averaging 2.7 points over 12.1 minutes. Amundson, 6-9, 220-pounds, scored two total points over 15 minutes over two preseason games. Early, signed on Oct. 18, and Inglis, signed on Oct. 11, did not appear in preseason action.

Derrick Rose has been found not liable in a sexual assault civil trial.

Rose and two of his friends were sued for $21 million, accused of gang raping his ex-girlfriend while she was intoxicated on Aug. 27, 2013. 

The jury was comprised of six women and two men, all of whom were white. Deliberations took three hours and 45 minutes before a verdict was reached.

Rose has missed the entire preseason with the New York Knicks to be present for the trial.

The New York Knicks have agreed to re-sign Cleanthony Early.

Early is expected to begin the season in the D-League as he rehabs his hamstring.

Early was shot leaving a club in late December of 2015 and missed several months.

Derrick Rose will remain in Los Angeles until the conclusion of a $21.5 million civil rape lawsuit.

Rose will return to the New York Knicks once the suit is resolved. Rose is in his first season with the Knicks and will be a free agent in the offseason.

Rose's attorneys filed for a mistrial, which was denied by the judge.

Rose testified on Tuesday.

The New York Knicks have signed forward Damien Inglis.

Inglis, 6-8, 245-pounds, was originally selected by Milwaukee in the second round (31st overall) in the 2014 NBA Draft after playing professional in France. He appeared in 20 games for the Bucks last season to average 1.8 points and 7.8 minutes after missing the entire 2014-15 season due to injury. On D-League assignment twice, Inglis averaged 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.31 steals over 21.4 minutes in 16 games for both the Canton Charge and Westchester Knicks.

The Cayenne, French Guiana-native appeared in four games for the New Orleans Pelicans’ entry in the 2016 NBA Summer League to average 4.0 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Jeff Hornacek said that Phil Jackson has been "hands off" and "helpful" during the preseason as Hornacek installs a new offense for the New York Knicks.

"Phil's been great. He's not trying to take over and make us do anything. He's given us the leeway," Hornacek said after practice Sunday. "There are some things that we do that aren't the triangle stuff [such as] our early [offense]. Quite honestly, we thought he would say, 'Let's not do that.' Or, 'Let's not do that option.' But he hasn't said that at all."

Hornacek has run "aspects" of Jackson's triangle offense in the preseason while encouraging the Knicks to increase their pace and hunt for opportunities for easy shots early in possessions.

"We talk quite a bit, but he's been hands off," Hornacek said. "He gives some directions here and there. If he sees something or he says, 'Hey, let's take a look, clean this up, this particular action.' So it's good.

"It's another coach out there -- he's run it for years and years, so when he sees something -- really, he's not coming in there saying, 'Hey, change it to this,' or 'Change it to that.' It's good, additional information."

Hornacek on Sunday acknowledged the criticism of the offense and also defended it, noting that many teams run elements of the triangle in their offense.

"A lot of teams throw it in the post, run splits and cut and do that. So there are some other aspects of it [in many offenses]," Hornacek said, adding that some of the criticism stems from the offense's slow pace.

"If it slows you down, I think that's where most guys [who critique the triangle] are probably coming from," Hornacek said. "You end up being a slow-down team and never get easy buckets, and you're running that half-court set all the time. First of all, guys don't like to run it. Secondly, it makes it very difficult to get easy buckets early in the offense. And I think in today's game, those early buckets are nice to get."

Derrick Rose's attorney has requested a mistrial in his civil lawsuit case.

The judge in the case will consider the mistrial motion when court reconvenes on Tuesday after the Columbus Day holiday. The judge denied a request to allow Rose to skip court on Tuesday to continue testifying. Rose assumedly hoped to play in the Knicks' game in New York on Monday.

Rose's attorney is claiming Jane Doe hid certain text messages following the alleged rape in August of 2013.

"We had an ongoing concern that plaintiff has manipulated and omitted critical probative texts," said Rose's attorney.

Carmelo Anthony is surprised to see Jeremy Lin as the face of the Brooklyn Nets.

Lin was a teammate of Anthony with the New York Knicks before he signed a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets in 2012.

The Nets signed Lin to a three-year, $36 million deal in the offseason.

“He is the face of their franchise – believe it or not,’’ Anthony said after Friday’s practice. “He came up, they paid him. Now the ball is in his hands. Now he’s one of the franchise players over there. I don’t know what you want me to say about that. I’m happy for him, excited for him to see how it’s going to turn out over there.’’

Mike D’Antoni said on a Vertical podcast Anthony didn’t “adapt’’ well to Lin’s rise.

“That was five, six years ago, bro,’’ Anthony said. “I forgot about that.’’

Kristaps Porzingis has signed a multi-year deal with Adidas worth between $3 million and $6 million annually depending on bonuses.

Nike has the right to match Porzingis' new deal.

Porzingis became a shoe free agent Oct. 1.

Porzingis signed a four-year deal with Nike in 2012 that paid him $25,000 per year as a 17-year-old. 

Nike, adidas and Under Armour each expressed strong interest in a long-term deal, while several Chinese-based brands also made an effort to pitch Porzingis and his agent, Andy Miller.

“All I can say is both Nike and adidas are first-class companies,” Porzingis told The Vertical on Wednesday. “I would be lucky to align myself with either one. The amount of attention I received was flattering, but right now I am letting my agents handle the business side of things.”