The Knicks have been busy lately. After signing Jordan Clarkson following a buyout with the Jazz, as well as Guerschon Yabusele earlier in the summer, New York found itself in a severe salary cap crunch, but that hasn’t stopped the team from trying to upgrade on the margins.
The Knicks added Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon on training camp deals, and are reportedly hoping to keep both for the regular season, despite their cap limitations. They also signed Garrison Mathews, a sharpshooter like Shamet, along with Alex Len and Matt Ryan on camp deals.
Finally, they signed second-round draft pick Mohamed Diawara to a non-guaranteed deal while rounding out their two-way contract rotation with deals for Trey Jemison, Tosan Evbuomwan, and Kevin McCullar Jr.
For a team with limited space and money, the Knicks have done a good job of finding quality NBA players to compete for their final roster spot behind Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride, Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, and Ariel Hukporti.
With Diawara expected to claim a roster spot due to his rookie-minimum cap hit, the Knicks technically have two more openings on their 15-man roster. However, without enough room below a second-apron hard cap to carry a full 15-man squad, retaining two more veterans would require a salary-shedding trade, likely involving one of McBride, Kolek, or Dadiet.
McBride is the most proven player of that group, having demonstrated his ability to contribute during the playoffs after a tough opening series against the Pistons. He’s on a team-friendly contract, but only for one more season after this one. While it’s unlikely McBride would be moved, his defense and shooting could appeal to a team looking to add an established backcourt contributor on the cheap.
Among the Knicks’ 2024 draftees, Kolek played more than Dadiet last season and showed himself to be a heady decision-maker, but he needs to be more consistent as a shooter to cover for his defensive limitations. While Dadiet played less than half the minutes of Kolek, his size (6’8″), flashes of shooting, and the fact that he’s four years younger than Kolek could make him a more attractive trade target for teams.
As for who will win the training camp battle for the final roster spot(s), Shamet appears to be a frontrunner. The 6’4″ guard played well when called upon by former coach Tom Thibodeau, operating as an effective off-ball shooting threat and giving good effort on defense. Head coach Mike Brown has reportedly put an emphasis on player movement this summer, which should play into the skill set of Shamet, as well as Mathews and Ryan.
Brogdon is the most accomplished of the players under consideration. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2016/17 and Sixth Man of the Year in 2022/23, had a season of shooting over 40/50/90 while scoring 15.6 points per game, and holds a career three-point percentage of 38.8%, as well as a career assist-to-turnover rate of 4.7 to 1.7. For a team that was lacking secondary ball-handling alongside Brunson last season, Brogdon’s ability to function in either guard spot and play alongside Brunson could be appealing, especially with the defensive concerns that could come with playing Brunson and Clarkson together for long stretches.
However, Brogdon comes with an extensive injury history, having played just 166 games over the last four seasons. The decision on Brogdon could come down to how comfortable the team is with his health, as well as his willingness to move the ball quickly.
The Knicks’ roster-building strategy this summer has been very focused on offensive-minded guards and wings. Brown faces an uphill battle when it comes to ironing out an effective defensive scheme, and starting Robinson could be one way that he addresses it.
Adding Shamet and Brogdon, along with Clarkson, would make for a roster crunch in the backcourt with McBride still there as the incumbent sixth man. Starting McBride could make it easier to slot the guards in around Hart and Yabusele, while also allowing McBride to take over the primary initiator defensive duties, a role that Bridges struggled with at times last season. This would allow the team to have three high-level wing defenders in McBride, Bridges, and Anunoby while also playing five shooters offensively.
If Brown decides during training camp to start the two-big lineup, it could change the team’s plans for the back of its roster. Brown coached Len for over two years in Sacramento, so there’s a built-in familiarity between the two. Jemison has less size than Len, but he could be viewed as a potential longer-term depth piece given that he’s only 25 years old.
We want to hear your thoughts. How do you think the Knicks should round out the final spots on their roster?
There are a lot of moves and players for just a few spots. Hopefully, Duece stays before he has to leave because he will want a much bigger paycheck. I was hoping Dink Pate was someone worth keeping, but I guess he’s gone now. It’s definitely a dilemma barely below the second apron. Unfortunately, it’s probably Kolek or Diadet gone because of a win now season. Let’s go, Knicks!!!! The time is now
Pate is in Westchester, he’ll get called up if he shows anything.
It makes more sense for the Knicks to trade Kolek rather than Dadiet. Dadiet is younger and has greater all-around upside, while Kolek, as much as I love the guy’s game, gets exposed on the defensive end. As long as they don’t trade Deuce, we should be good to hold onto Brogdon and Shamet.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Hukporti continue to develop. He’s limited offensively, but shows real potential to be a decent lob threat and a strong defensive presence down low. He’s got a lot to learn, but he has good instincts and works hard.
Knicks are stupid if they trade Dadiet. He is definitely at minimum a sixth man and could be a pretty good starter in the next 2 or 3 years.
Kolek is a 3rd string guard. And his ceiling is a backup point guard for 8 to 12 minutes a night.
I don’t see the point of Kolek. I know AL like him but I just don’t see enough scoring in the ability to get himself in positions to play make. Plus on top of that is defense is lacking which is going to be hard to play him for long stretches. He is older too. Like 25 already so I say trade him.
Trade Dadiet, Diawara and James N for cash and picks
Trade for Danny Wolf of the Nets
Dadiet, draft rights to Diawara, James Nnaji and picks for Danny Wolf
Dadiet, Diawara and James Nnaji for cash and a 2nd. Offer it to Brooklyn
You didn’t sign Pate, Diawara or James Nnaji. So trade the rights to Diawara and James Nnaji with the ONLY young player on your team. You could of had a good young core PG(Warren)SG(Pate), SF(Dadiet), PF(Diawara)C(James Nnaji) but I guess you are going all in. Why keep Dadiet as the only young player on the roster? He doesn’t fit in, maybe a four or five year age gap. Just trade him to someone where he can excell on a young team.
Trade Dadiet, Diawara and James Nnaji for cash and picks.
Ask me again after they trade KAT…
Recruit Tosan 6’8 versatile player and also recruit Alex Len good back up Center 7’0 foot with experience – my choice for 2 spots on the Knicks roster ..
I’m team Twin Towers.
Jazz: McBride, Dadiet, Kolek, 1-2 first round swaps
Knicks: Kessler
Keep Brogdon, Shamet and Matthews
Too early for any trades. Only player who has a chance to make this team is Brogdon. And that’s if he is healthy. McBride should be Brunson’s backup. Now with a better bench that’s where his mins should be. I still see Shamet on this team. Diadet and Kolek have to start competing for mins. Even if its for a future trade. We’ll see how training camp goes. Oct 20 is last day for roster to be set.
NYK didn’t suddenly find themselves in a severe salary cap crunch. They deliberately created one, by use of the Txp-MLE. Hopefully GY will be worth it, meaning he’ll need to be more valuable than 3 veteran minimum guys. If signing GY ends up leading to a trade of McBride, directly or indirectly, then signing GY was a bad move regardless.
There has been stories about the internal divisions within the NYK FO from the start, but it always appeared (until this off season) that Rose had it under control. Stories like this one suggest amateur hour is upon us. You don’t put yourself in a salary crunch, and then immediately try to pay a premium to buy your way out it based upon the availability of guys like Brogdon and Shamet.