The Knicks have turned one of their final roster spots into a real camp battle, and Bruce Brown looks like the veteran who can separate himself from the pack.
New York is heading into the season with most of last year’s core intact, with Mitchell Robinson standing out as the biggest departure. That leaves the Knicks with room to make another move or two, but the financial picture makes the decision tricky. As NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin wrote, “While there will be some agent spin that the Knicks could keep two of them - they have just 13 standard contracts and two open roster spots - the reality of them staying below the second apron (as mandated by owner James Dolan) means only one roster spot is truly available,”
That means the competition matters. The Knicks have five players fighting for the same opening after the team added a wave of veterans on Exhibit 9 deals: Ochai Agbaji, Bruce Brown, John Konchar, Drew Eubanks, and James Wiseman.
As SI’s Max Wildstein noted, “Earlier this week, the Knicks agreed to Exhibit 9 deals with five players: Ochai Agbaji, Bruce Brown, John Konchar, Drew Eubanks, and James Wiseman. The Knicks only have two roster spots open and are approaching the second apron, so there’s more at stake than just performance and fit during the preseason for this group,”
Among that group, Brown has the cleanest path. Wildstein pointed to his championship background and his ability to fill multiple jobs on a contender.
“The 30-year-old has championship pedigree and is one of the few guys out there you could add on the minimum who has served in a plethora of roles for a title team. He’s a high-intensity guard who can defend multiple positions, knock down threes (38.5% in 2025-26), and rebound and facilitate, just like Josh Hart.
This gives him an edge over everyone else New York has brought in for camp, and it could be enough to convince the team to trade someone else away in order to clear room for him,” Wildstein wrote.
That versatility is exactly why Brown makes so much sense for New York. He has spent his career doing whatever a team needs, and he knows how to fit into that kind of structure.
Brown has earned $63 million in his career, and he could also give the Knicks another reliable option when Jalen Brunson or Josh Hart need a night off. For a team trying to protect flexibility while still improving the back end of the roster, that kind of value stands out.
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Knicks Fans Should Be Watching Detroits Jalen Duren Drama Closely
Jalen Durens contract situation has become one of the more interesting offseason storylines in the East, and it is the kind of thing Knicks fans should keep an eye on even if it is not happening in New York. Detroit has reportedly put a five-year, $200 million offer on the table, but the discussion has not moved to the finish line yet, leaving one of the Pistons most important young players at the center of a tense waiting game.
If Duren remains unsigned, the ripple effects could reach well beyond one roster. The Pistons would be forced to navigate a major uncertainty around a key piece, and any delay could open the door to sign-and-trade possibilities or simply leave them dealing with a distraction all the way into next season. For the Knicks, a divisional rival getting stuck in that kind of limbo is the sort of subplot that can matter when the Eastern Conference standings start tightening up. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Final Roster Battle Could Come Down To Mike Browns Trust
The Knicks brought five veterans into camp on non-guaranteed deals, and with only a few roster spots available, the final trim is shaping up as one of those late-summer decisions that can turn on fit as much as production. Among the names in the mix, James Wiseman stands out because New York is at least considering him as a possible third center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, a role that would have to be earned quickly in a crowded competition.
Marc Stein reported that Wisemans case may also be tied to Mike Browns comfort level with him, which adds another layer to a decision already complicated by Wisemans long stretch away from consistent game action. The Knicks do not need him to be a featured piece, but they do need to know whether he can be trusted as a usable depth option, and that is where this battle figures to get interesting over the next stretch of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Former Knick Admits Knicks Title Run Brought Complicated Feelings
RJ Barrett is still close enough to the Knicks to feel their championship run from a distance, and close enough to admit it stirred up some complicated emotions. The Raptors forward said he had mixed feelings watching his former team win it all last season, even as he made clear he was happy for the players and people he still knows in New York.
Barretts connection to the Knicks has not faded just because he is wearing a different uniform now. He still has friends on the roster and has kept in touch with them since the title run, which makes his reaction feel less like sour grapes and more like the natural push and pull that comes with seeing an old team reach the top without you. [Read more 🡒]