The New York Knicks announced a flurry of roster additions, signing several veterans to non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 training camp contracts according to the team. The group of incoming players features center James Wiseman, guard Bruce Brown, guard Ochai Agbaji, center Drew Eubanks, and wing John Konchar.
Knicks Sign Veteran Group to Training Camp Deals
The Exhibit 9 contracts provide these players with an opportunity to make the Knicks’ regular season roster during training camp and the preseason as reported by Hoops Rumors. Contracts featuring Exhibit 9 language protect a team if a player suffers a preseason injury, though they cannot be converted into two-way deals or trigger G League assignment bonuses.
Roster Competition and Financial Constraints
The Knicks currently carry 13 players on guaranteed contracts, leaving two open spots available on the 15-man regular-season roster noted by SSB Crack. However, filling both openings would push the team’s salary into second-apron territory according to Hoops Rumors.
Team owner James Dolan confirmed in June that he is adamant about not surpassing the second-apron line, treating that financial threshold as a de facto hard cap reported Hoops Rumors. Unless the front office executes a preseason trade to create cap space, Brown, Agbaji, Wiseman, Eubanks, and Konchar will effectively be battling for a single remaining roster spot noted Hoops Rumors. The team can also temporarily drop to 13 players for a period not exceeding 14 consecutive days or 28 total days in a season according to Newsday.
The organization utilized a similar approach to its final roster spot last year when Landry Shamet beat out competing players to make the team before eventually signing a new four-year contract reported Hoops Rumors. Media day and the start of training camp are scheduled to begin on Sept. 28 according to Newsday.
Veteran Backgrounds and Career Paths
Bruce Brown is a versatile 6-foot-4 guard known for his defensive prowess and ability to guard multiple positions reported SSB Crack. He appeared in all 82 regular-season games for the Denver Nuggets last season, averaging 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steal in 24.4 minutes per game with shooting splits of .475/.385/.762 according to Hoops Rumors. Executives in New York’s front office have reportedly been fans of Brown for a long time noted Hoops Rumors.
James Wiseman was selected second overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors according to Newsday. Across 152 career regular-season games with Golden State, Detroit, and Indiana, Wiseman has averaged 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game while shooting 56.0% from the floor reported Hoops Rumors. His career has been impacted by health challenges, including missing the entire 2021-22 season due to a knee injury and suffering an Achilles tear at the beginning of the 2024-25 season noted SSB Crack.
Ochai Agbaji was selected 14th overall in the 2022 draft and has spent time with Utah, Toronto, and Brooklyn during his first four NBA seasons according to Hoops Rumors. Drew Eubanks is a 29-year-old who has played eight seasons in the league across six organizations, including 42 games for Sacramento last season reported Newsday. John Konchar spent six full seasons in Memphis and played 26 games with Utah before a stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves, bringing career averages of 4.1 points and 3.9 rebounds according to Yahoo Sports.
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