The New York Knicks just dropped five Exhibit 9 contracts, bringing in Ochai Agbaji, Bruce Brown, James Wiseman, John Konchar, and Drew Eubanks to battle it out for that single, championship-level final roster spot. These non-guaranteed training camp deals usually fly under the radar, but after what happened last year, every fan in the league is watching closely. The defending champs have 13 players locked in and about $3 million under the second apron, meaning there’s exactly one open slot before the season kicks off.
Last Year’s Shamet Shockwave is Back
Why are these non-guaranteed deals suddenly so huge? Just look back a year ago. The Knicks had a similar situation, bringing in Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon, and Garrison Mathews to fight for that final spot. Guess who snagged it? Landry Shamet, that’s who! The dude became an essential role player for their championship run and then re-signed on a four-year deal. Shamet was hitting from everywhere, with a 43.7 FG%, 39.2 3P%, and 71.1 FT%, averaging 2.02 threes per game. Yeah, the odds are usually low for a player on a camp deal to make that kind of impact, but Shamet proved it can happen. The Knicks would be absolutely hyped if just one of these five new guys could do the same.
The Champs Still Need a Big Man
Even as defending champions, the Knicks look a little incomplete, especially after their offseason moves. In an effort to duck the second apron, they lost key backup center Mitchell Robinson, who signed with rival Boston. They nominally replaced him with Andre Drummond, but let’s be real, that’s a downgrade. We know the Knicks are desperate for at least one more big man on the roster. They tried to trade for Yves Missi from New Orleans and tendered an offer sheet to Dallas’ Moussa Cissé, but Dallas matched. So, with that in mind, it’s no surprise that Drew Eubanks and James Wiseman, two of the five new signings, are big men. Eubanks is an experienced journeyman who got some occasional minutes for the Sacramento Kings last season, and Wiseman, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020, has only played five games in the past two seasons due to a torn Achilles tendon. These guys are total fliers at center.
These low-odds signings might not scream “championship hero,” but we know what happened last year. The champs are incomplete, especially at big man, and they need one of these five to step up. Who’s gonna be the guy? The training camp battle is officially on, and you know everyone’s watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply