The Knicks are taking a close look at two defense-first veterans as they sort through the final pieces of their roster, with Drew Eubanks and John Konchar both on their radar, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
Eubanks is the bigger name of the two in terms of position fit. The 6-foot-10 center, who played at Oregon State, has logged eight NBA seasons and has bounced around the league with San Antonio, Portland, Phoenix, Utah, the Clippers and the Kings. He spent last season in Sacramento, where he put up 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 13.1 minutes per game.
His year was interrupted by injuries. Eubanks appeared in just 42 games after suffering an avulsion fracture in his left thumb in December, then later tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in that same digit. That second injury came in March and ended his season after surgery.
If New York brings him in, Begley says the deal would likely be non-guaranteed. He also notes that Eubanks would face competition for the Knicks’ third center job.
Konchar is a different kind of target, but the appeal is clear. He became a free agent on Monday after Minnesota waived him Saturday, just after acquiring him from Utah in the Josh Green trade. Before that, the 30-year-old guard/forward spent six and a half seasons in Memphis before being dealt to the Jazz in February.
Begley described Konchar as a “strong rebounder/defender/offensive connector who can knock down perimeter shots.” Last season, the Chicago native averaged 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks across 56 games, while playing 19.9 minutes per night for the Grizzlies and Jazz. For his career, he has shot .469/.349/.727.
The roster math matters here, too. New York already has 13 players on guaranteed contracts and is expected to start the season with only 14 on standard deals because of its proximity to the second tax apron.
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