As August closes, the Knicks still have room to keep building, and one of the more intriguing possibilities left on the board is a non-center two-way signing. New York still has all three of its two-way contract spots open, which gives the team a cheap way to take a swing on developmental talent at positions beyond the frontcourt.
Guard is not the Knicks’ top priority, but it is a spot worth at least watching. That is especially true with Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride both mentioned as possible trade pieces later this season. With that in mind, Jaden Akins stands out as a name the Knicks could circle back to after seeing him up close in Summer League.
The appeal starts with familiarity. Teams like to have some feel for the players they are betting on with two-way deals, and Akins already gave New York a look in Las Vegas.
His first stretch was rough - he opened the tournament with two points in the first exhibition, then sat out the next two games - but the Knicks gave him another shot in the fourth game, and he made it count. Akins finished with a team-high 21 points on 9 of 20 shooting against the Golden State Warriors.
That kind of response matters. It showed not just scoring ability, but the ability to reset after a slow start and deliver in a pressure setting. That sort of resilience fits the general mold of what the Knicks have valued, with their playoff run showing how their core pieces can bounce back from a bad night and still be ready for the next one.
Akins also has something more than a Summer League moment going for him. He put together a solid G League All-Star season, averaging 15.1 ppg, 5.2 apg, and 3.2 rpg in 47 games after arriving as a new face. The Michigan State product shot 35.1% from deep and added 1.3 steals per game, giving him a profile that goes beyond just scoring.
His biggest performance of the season came against the Knicks’ G League affiliate, which may have helped put him on the organization’s radar. In that overtime game, he exploded for 35 points on 52.2% shooting from the field and 57.1% from three, while also contributing five assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.
35 PTS 💥 5 REB 💥 5 AST 💥 12/23 FGJaden Akins is DIFFERENT! The @motorcitycruise rookie scored a career-high in their OT showdown vs. the Knicks. pic.twitter.com/7tG5PeMXcy
For a two-way player, the goal is simple: be available when needed and actually help when called upon. New York saw that kind of value in 2025-26 from Trey Jemison III and Kevin McCullar Jr. Akins has shown enough scoring juice in both the G League and Las Vegas to at least make you wonder whether he could become that sort of bench spark down the line.
There is also a broader case for betting on him. At 23, he could still grow into a useful piece if the Knicks develop him the right way. The league keeps finding talent through different pipelines, and players who show real promise deserve a look even if they are not traditional draft picks.
For a team that has to be careful with money, cheap upside matters. The Knicks may still be looking at the guard spot, and the possibility of moving Kolek or McBride only makes a player like Akins more interesting.
At minimum, he is a young 6-foot-4 combo guard who would be worth developing with the G League affiliate to see what comes next. The risk is minimal, and the upside is there.
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Hardens recent conference finals showing against New York only adds to the unease around Clevelands bet. Even before the financial commitment is fully unpacked, the fit and the long-range value are already under the microscope, and the Knicks can only watch as a rival takes on a massive gamble that may or may not age cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
Mikal Bridges Is Chasing Rare NBA History Knicks Fans Should Track
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The streak also gives Bridges a place in a different kind of history chase. He owns the second-longest run to begin a career without missing a game, and he already passed Andre Miller for the best such start since 2000. For Knicks fans, the interesting part is not just how far he has come, but how rare it would be for him to keep climbing if his body cooperates over the next couple of seasons. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Still Have One Roster Battle Worth Watching In Camp
The Knicks still have one roster spot worth monitoring as camp approaches, and it sits at a position where depth can disappear in a hurry. New York has not settled its third-string center job yet, which means the last big man on the roster could be chosen the old-fashioned way, by competing in training camp and proving he can help in a limited role.
One name in the mix is Julian Reese, whose rebounding profile makes him an appealing non-guaranteed camp option. His game has drawn an Andre Drummond comparison because of how he impacts the glass, and his recent work with Washington only adds to the sense that he could fit New Yorks roster strategy if the team wants a rugged, rebound-first presence tucked behind its main rotation. [Read more 🡒]