Donte DiVincenzo would be in a similar situation to the one he currently is in if he were to return to the Knicks. He would have to resort to a bench role with Mikal Bridges in the starting five, and Siegel has hinted that coming off the bench was not desirable for him.
DiVincenzo began last year as a bench starter for New York before working his way up to a starter. In 63 games as a starter for the Knicks, DiVincenzo has thrived with the extra opportunities he has been given, averaging 17.7 points and shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from three in that role.
However, those same opportunities won’t be available again if he were to return to the Knicks with the same roster, and it’s unlikely his role would be substantially different than it is in Minnesota. Playing him in an unwanted role could make for an awkward reunion despite being a huge fan favorite.
While the idea of bringing back DiVincenzo sounds fun, it is very complicated logistically and may not be worth the extra hassle for a player who won’t be starting. However, the Knicks seem to have done well since the trade and hope to be a better team than before.