The Knicks still have one opening to sort out, and the decision comes with a clear financial line in the sand. New York has roughly $3.3 million in cap flexibility before hitting its self-imposed second-apron cut-off, which leaves the front office weighing whether to use that spot now or keep it open for later.
One name that fits the “buy low” lane is Cam Thomas. The former Nets guard is still on the market after weeks of free agency, and his path to this point has been rocky. Thomas, the 27 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, went from being viewed as a promising young piece in Brooklyn to a swing-and-miss addition for the Milwaukee Bucks, who waived him in March a little more than a month after signing him.
Even with that stretch, there’s still a case for a team taking a shot. Over his five-year career, Thomas has built a reputation as a confident scorer off the bench and beyond, averaging more than 22 points per game twice over the last three years and 19.9 points overall in that span. He’s still only 24, and that mix of age and three-level scoring makes him the kind of player a team can justify bringing in on the veteran minimum.
That said, there’s another school of thought on how the Knicks should use their remaining flexibility. Instead of forcing a move for a big man right now, the Game Theory podcast argued New York may be better off waiting until the trade market opens up during the season.
During a recent episode, The Athletic’s Bryce Simon and Sam Vecenie said 2026-27 is the year the Knicks are “going to have to make some in-season moves” because of roster needs and owner James Dolan’s reluctance to go into the second apron this summer.
Vecenie floated one possible route: a deal that would send Miles McBride and Pacome Dadiet out in exchange for a “pretty decent backup center.”
If that kind of move is the long-term plan, it only makes the case for Thomas stronger in the short term. With a backup two-guard spot still available, New York could use a veteran-minimum flier on a scorer who can help fill minutes now while the bigger roster shuffle waits for later.
In Other News...
CJ McCollum Just Said What Knicks Fans Never Wanted To Hear
The Knicks got through Atlanta in six games, but the way they finished the first-round series said a lot more than the final 4-2 result. After dropping two of the first three, New York settled in and won the last three in a row, turning what looked like a tense matchup into a one-sided close.
CJ McCollums postseries assessment tried to put a different spin on it, saying the Knicks figured something out and that the Hawks pushed them to the limit. From New Yorks side, though, the closing stretch told a harsher story for Atlanta, with the Knicks separating themselves by huge margins and leaving little doubt about who had control when the series mattered most. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Fans Already Have A Reason To Revisit That Draft Trade
The Knicks old first-rounder already has a little extra shine attached to it after the 2026 NBA Draft, when Dallas used the No. 25 pick that once belonged to New York. The Mavericks came away with a guard they believe can grow into a useful piece, and his early showing in Las Vegas only added to the intrigue around what the Knicks gave up in that deal.
Sergio De Larrea turned heads during Summer League with a strong outing that included 16 points and 12 assists, the kind of production that makes a late first-round selection look a lot more interesting. For New York, it is the sort of draft-trade reminder that can linger, especially when the player on the other end starts looking like more than just another name on a board. [Read more 🡒]
Andre Drummond Gives Knicks One Thing Fans Never Had With Mitch
When the Knicks moved on from Mitchell Robinson, they were not just replacing a rim protector and rebounder. They were also looking for a center who could survive late-game situations without becoming a foul-shot liability, and Andre Drummond gives them a different kind of answer. Signed to a one-year deal, he arrives with the kind of interior presence New York needs, but with a more dependable touch at the line than the player he is stepping in for.
Drummond also brings a little more to the table offensively than people usually associate with a traditional backup center. He knocked down 35.6 percent of his threes last season on limited attempts, which at least gives the Knicks something they did not have at the position before. For a team trying to keep its spacing clean around Karl-Anthony Towns and its perimeter scorers, that small layer of versatility could matter more than it looks on paper. [Read more 🡒]