4:30pm: The Knicks have officially signed Jemison and McCullar Jr. to two-way deals, the team’s PR department tweets (Twitter links).
4:00pm: The Knicks have reached two-way contract agreements with big man Trey Jemison and forward Tosan Evbuomwan, SNY’s Ian Begley reports (Twitter links).
The Knicks will enter training camp with all three two-way slots filled, as Kevin McCullar Jr. is expected to return on another two-way deal, Begley adds. Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype confirms that McCullar will sign his two-way qualifying offer (Twitter link).
New York worked out Jemison on Monday and obviously the front office and coaches liked what they saw. Jemison had a two-way deal with the Lakers last season but was waived in July.
Jemison signed a two-year, two-way contract in January with the Lakers and remained on their roster the rest of the season.
The 25-year-old center had some productive moments in his 22 games with them, averaging 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per night while shooting 61.9% from the field. He also spent time with New Orleans during the 2024/25 season and had brief stints with Washington and Memphis in ’23/24.
Overall, Jemison has 63 games of NBA experience (14 starts), averaging 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game. Jemison, 25, went undrafted out of UAB in 2023.
The Knicks have been busy finalizing their camp roster and announced a handful of other contract signings on Monday, including an Exhibit 10 contract with Evbuomwan. They’ve apparently decided to upgrade that move regarding Evbuomwan.
Evbuomwan had been on a two-way deal with the Nets in 2024/25. Brooklyn waived the 6’8″ British combo forward in August.
After going undrafted out of Princeton in 2023, the former Ivy League Player of the Year linked up with the Pistons’ G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, to start his pro career. Evbuomwan signed a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies, then joined Detroit on a 10-day deal, later agreeing to a two-way contract. He started 2024/25 with the Clippers’ NBAGL club, the San Diego Clippers before inking a two-way deal with Brooklyn in January.
In 28 games with Brooklyn last season, the 24-year-old averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.9 steals per contest, with a shooting line of .427/.312/.753.
Could certainly do worse. I’m not unhappy with either of these two guys on two-way deals.
I thought the Knicks were going to give James Nnaji a chance with a two-way contract, but I guess not.
I wouldn’t say Nnaji is out of the mix yet, as there’s still some shuffling of Exhibits that needs to be done. Once he puts pen to paper, the Knicks lose his “draft rights”, so it doesn’t make sense to do so if he won’t make the team out of camp.
He could simply spend time in the G-League and sign later when it benefits both parties (ala Tristan Vukevic). The Grizz are also taking a similar approach with Jahmai Mashack.
KNICKS DEPTH (11 Guaranteed, 1 Non-Guaranteed, 8 Exhibits, 3 Two-Way)
PG: Jalen Brunson, Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Kolek, Malcolm Brogdon (E9)
SG: Mikal Bridges, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet (E9), Garrison Mathews (E10)
SF: OG Anunoby, Pacome Dadiet, Kevin McCullar (TW), Matt Ryan (E10)
PF: Josh Hart, Guerschon Yabusele, Tosan Evbuomwan (TW), Mohamed Diawara (E10)
C: Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, Ariel Hukporti (NG), Trey Jemison (TW), Alex Len (E9)
(Pate/Warren will be waived for Len/Ryan).
Based on the roster comp (bringing in additional centers) it seems a little more likely we’ll see KAT at PF (shifting Hart down to backup SF).
I think a trade is also a bit more likely with such a stacked vet camp roster. Players like Kolek, Dadiet, and Hukporti will need to earn their roster spots.
It’s notable that Diawara signed an E10 rather than a standard contract (despite months of reporting), because he can still be converted to a Two-Way if desired. I think they’d prefer K-Mac on a standard (i.e. why he took so long to accept his QO), but can only do that if they clear some salary.