The Knicks have quietly circled back to Jaden Akins, and it’s the kind of move that doesn’t grab headlines now but could matter later.
New York signed Akins this week to an Exhibit 10 deal for its G League affiliate, ending a stretch of silence after his Summer League stint. He was one of the more interesting names the Knicks brought to Vegas, coming in after a strong G League season as an undrafted rookie, even if his start in Summer League was slow before he eventually flashed why he’s worth a look.
The latest batch of Exhibit 10 signings also included Igor Milicic Jr., Mitch Mascari, Toby Okani and Paul Zilinskas, with Westchester recently acquiring G League rights for Akins, Milicic Jr. and Mascari. Okani was with New York in Summer League.
For the Knicks, Akins is the sort of low-cost swing that makes sense. He’s 23, 6-foot-4, and has already shown he can handle a little bit of everything.
In 47 G League games last season, he averaged 15.1 points and 5.7 assists, while also contributing 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. That’s the profile of a guard who stays involved even when the ball isn’t in his hands.
There’s real burst in his game, too. In Vegas, he put up 21 points on 9-of-20 shooting against the Warriors. And in a bigger eruption during the G League season, he dropped 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting against Westchester on Nov. 25, 2025, while adding seven assists, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Of course, he’s not a finished product. His shot can swing hot and cold, and his decision-making still needs work after averaging 3.1 turnovers per game in the G League. It also matters that no other team grabbed him this offseason, even after a productive rookie year with the Pistons’ developmental affiliate.
Still, the appeal is obvious. Akins has offensive feel, plays hard in the margins and has the size to work as a combo guard at either backcourt spot. And since he just turned pro last year, there’s plenty left to learn about what he can become.
That’s what makes this reunion interesting for New York. The Knicks didn’t have to use a two-way contract to bring him in, which keeps their roster flexibility intact heading into opening night. If they want to use one of their three open two-way slots on someone else, they still can.
And if Akins keeps showing something, the door is open for more. New York could eventually convert him to a two-way deal before the season, or later on if he keeps producing in the G League in 2026-27.
The Knicks already showed last season that they’re willing to adjust a two-way spot midstream, when they cut Tosan Evbuomwan and added Dillon Jones. They could take a similar path again if Akins forces the issue, or even keep one two-way spot open for extra flexibility before deciding whether to bring him in.
For now, New York has a young guard project worth tracking. It might go nowhere at the NBA level. But it also might be the kind of under-the-radar move that pays off if Akins keeps making noise.
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That matters in a place like New York, where every roster spot is scrutinized and every opportunity feels hard-won. Players around the league notice when a coach is willing to look deeper than the obvious choices, and the Knicks have already become the kind of team some veterans and younger pieces view as a possible opening rather than a dead end. The question now is which of these camp additions can turn that belief into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Camp Battle Just Got More Interesting For One Roster Spot
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Brown makes the subplot a little more interesting because New York had already looked into him at the 2024 trade deadline, and he brings a versatility that can help on both ends of the floor. The Knicks will sort through several moving parts as they evaluate the rest of the roster, but this fight for one spot now has a familiar name in the mix and a clearer sense of urgency attached to it. [Read more 🡒]