Though he originally agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract, the New York Knicks will sign forward Tosan Evbuomwan to a two-way contract, per SNY reporter Ian Begley. The news came shortly after they officially signed center Trey Jemison and wing Kevin McCullar Jr. to two-way deals. Now, New York has filled all three of their two-way slots.
To speak briefly about Evbuomwan, he’s the only Princeton product on an NBA roster. In fact, just 11 players who played for the Tigers have made it to the NBA. When considering that he picked up basketball later than most NBA players, his ability to overcome the odds is truly impressive. Playing for a team like the Knicks and in a state like New York, it might now even prove necessary.
The most immediate question the Knicks have is how to proceed with their standard contracts.
After deciding to decline their 2025-26 team option on 14-year veteran PJ Tucker’s contract (h/t New York Post reporter Stefan Bondy), they had five open spots remaining. Their first offseason signing was former Sixth Man of the Year, Jordan Clarkson. The second open spot went to prodigal son Guerschon Yabusele, who was invited back to the league after starring for France’s Paris Olympics team.
As a consequence of those moves pressing them close to the second apron, New York could only add one veteran and one rookie on a minimum contract, per Third Apron salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan. Since then, the Knicks have signed decorated leader Malcolm Brogdon to a one-year deal. They also plan to sign 2025 No. 51 pick Mohamed Diawara to a standard rookie contract.
Thus, their roster is—for all intents and purposes —presumably complete. However, they would technically have one standard roster spot remaining, and three veterans that will battle for it in training camp: Landry Shamet, Garrison Mathews, Alex Len and Matt Ryan. From the outside looking in, mutual familiarity gives Shamet a leg up over the competition.
Knicks fans have probably gone cross-eyed trying to follow their favorite team’s flurry of moves.
The aforementioned players, sans Tucker, have been or are planning to be signed. Now waived, Dink Pate and Bryson Warren will have to try to break into the NBA from the G League. Though he’s apparently not retiring, star free agent target Ben Simmons isn’t interested in playing for the minimum.
On top of all of that, the Knicks are no longer being led by controversial but effective head coach Tom Thibodeau. Instead, they’ll be following Mike Brown and his similar though distinct philosophy. Hopefully, for New York at least, this leads to them leaning on their non-starters more. It’s not ideal to have the best players resting but they do need to rest.
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