The Knicks may still be hunting for help at center and on a two-way deal, but John Konchar’s name has now surfaced as another possible target before training camp.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported Thursday that the veteran guard/forward is on New York’s “radar” after being released this past week. That’s an unexpected wrinkle for a roster that already looks crowded on the wing with its returning and re-signed pieces.
There are a couple of ways to read it. The simplest is that the Knicks just want a better look at Konchar while he’s available, even if the interest never turns into anything more serious. He spent the past 6.5 seasons with the Grizzlies before being traded to Utah and then released, which opened the door for any team to meet with him.
If the Knicks are digging deeper than that, though, it could mean they have more questions about their wing group than many assumed.
The common expectation has been that Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson and Mohamed Diawara would form the main depth behind Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. But each of those players comes with some uncertainty.
McBride is coming off a disappointing playoff run and has been mentioned as a trade candidate. Shamet has had his ups and downs and has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons.
Clarkson has shifted the way he plays, but that has also taken away some of the burst he used to bring. Diawara still has plenty of upside, but he has yet to prove he deserves a regular rotation role.
That’s where a player like Konchar starts to make sense. He’s not a headline name, but he’s a proven veteran who built a long run in Memphis as a dependable reserve. His game is all about energy, connective play and giving a second unit a lift.
Over his six seasons with the Grizzlies, Konchar put up per-36 minute averages of 8.9 points, 8.3 points and 2.9 assists while shooting 36.1% from three. He’s the kind of player who can help in a few different ways and do the less glamorous work, including attacking the glass.
At first glance, he looks like the most direct competition for Clarkson. There’s overlap there, and Clarkson’s guaranteed one-year deal from the Knicks gives him some security. Still, Clarkson also gave up his no-trade rights in that agreement, which would matter if Konchar were signed and Dec. 15 arrives, when Clarkson and other free agents who signed this offseason can first be traded.
The Konchar interest could also ripple toward McBride, Shamet and Diawara. At 6-foot-5, Konchar can play both shooting guard and small forward, and he leans on defense and spot-up shooting - traits that fit the same lane as that trio.
That doesn’t mean anyone is about to lose a job. It could simply be Leon Rose doing his homework on a player who suddenly became available. But the fact that the Knicks are even checking in on Konchar suggests their wing depth may not be as settled as it looked.
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