The Knicks still have three two-way openings, and that is not the kind of thing a contender can just shrug off. Those spots may look minor on paper, but they are exactly the sort of low-cost bets that can keep a season from getting messy when the rotation gets stretched.
New York also has an open 14th standard roster spot, which leaves the front office with some flexibility beyond the headline names. But the three two-way slots are the cleaner place to take chances on players who are not ready for a full guaranteed contract.
That matters because the best teams do not wait for injuries to start figuring out who can help. They stock the pipeline early, with camp standouts and G League players who already know the system before their number gets called.
A two-way player can get work in Westchester, stay close to the main group and be prepared when the calendar gets unforgiving. The Knicks do not need every one of these openings to turn into a hit. One useful guard or wing could be enough to stabilize a bench during a rough stretch.
Mikal Bridges and the core are going to handle the heavy lifting when the games matter most. The supporting cast is what determines whether the coaching staff has any breathing room in December and January.
If it were up to me, one of those slots would go to a long defender, another to a guard who can make the simple read, and the third to a bigger body who rebounds like his job depends on it. No need to overthink it.
The Knicks got where they are because their best players delivered. Keeping that level going means building enough depth so one injury does not turn into a full-blown emergency.
In Other News...
Knicks Suddenly Have A Kevin McCullar Jr. Decision To Make
The Knicks roster picture has a little more room than expected after the NCAAs latest eligibility ruling sent another layer of uncertainty through the back end of the summer. With only one official spot open and a clear need to fortify the center group, New York has been operating with an eye toward flexibility, and that puts a spotlight on every young player still in the mix for a place on the team or on a two-way deal.
Kevin McCullar Jr. fits that category, and then some. The 2024 draft pick showed enough in brief NBA and G League work to keep the door open, but the Knicks are still waiting on the full read on his availability before making any real move. If he checks out physically, he could factor into the teams plans in a meaningful way, but until then the Knicks have a decision to weigh with limited margin for error. [Read more 🡒]
Miles McBride Suddenly Has A Huge Chance To Break Out
The Knicks did not spend the offseason reworking the top of the rotation, and that puts a sharper spotlight on the players just below the headline names. With the core mostly intact and Andre Drummond stepping in for Mitchell Robinson, New York is leaning harder than ever on internal growth, especially from a supporting cast that needs to keep pace while the stars remain in their prime. Miles McBride fits that conversation neatly after a season that showed real gains on both ends of the floor.
McBride now has a chance to move from useful piece to one of the leagues more recognizable reserves, with a path toward awards like Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year in the 2026-27 season. For the Knicks, his next step matters because it would not just deepen the bench, it would help validate a roster built around continuity. The opportunity is there, and so is the pressure that comes with being one of the few players in New York expected to make a noticeable leap. [Read more 🡒]