The Knicks still have some sorting to do before opening night, and the last two-way contract is very much part of the picture.
On Sunday, New York added Kevin McCullar Jr. and Tyler Nickel on two-way deals, leaving one slot open. That means the Knicks could be heading toward another camp-and-preseason competition to decide who grabs the final two-way spot, much like they did last year when they ended up making the right call with Landry Shamet.
The team had gone through the entire offseason without a single two-way player before those two signings were announced within minutes of each other. A third move could come soon. If it doesn’t, the job may be decided by what happens in training camp and the preseason.
A few veteran invitees are in the mix for the open roster spot, though not all of them are eligible for a two-way contract. Bruce Brown, Drew Eubanks, James Wiseman, Ochai Agbaji, and John Konchar are among the players who can’t take that route, and they look like the main names battling for the final opening.
The Knicks technically still have two open roster spots, but only one can be filled with a veteran’s minimum deal without pushing them over the second apron.
New York also announced on Saturday that center N’Daly Fante had signed an Exhibit 10 contract. He is eligible for a two-way deal, though he’s coming back from a torn ACL and might not be ready when the season begins.
Liam Robbins is another possibility after spending summer league with the Knicks. And there’s always the chance New York brings in another reclamation-type player over the next few days and decides that’s the one worth keeping.
For all the roster shuffling, the reality is that a two-way player is unlikely to get major minutes on a team coming off a championship. Last season, Trey Jemison III, Dillon Jones, and McCullar Jr. ended the year on those kinds of contracts, and all three saw very little court time.
Still, depth matters. If the Knicks choose wisely, that final two-way slot could go to someone who’s ready to help when the roster gets thin.
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