The Knicks have turned a batch of training-camp signings into something more than the usual late-summer paperwork, and Mike Brown is a big reason why.
New York has handed out deals to Ochai Agbaji, John Konchar, Bruce Brown Jr. and Drew Eubank, a group that looks more appealing than the standard camp-body crowd. That matters.
These players are not all simply chasing a long shot at the back end of a roster. They’re looking at a situation that could actually lead somewhere.
Konchar, in particular, passed on other options to land in New York. Bruce Brown arrives after spending last season as a regular rotation piece for a flawed-but-still-good Denver Nuggets team, and he could have ended up elsewhere.
Agbaji brings defensive effort even if his offense remains something of a question mark, and he likely had choices too. In a market where combo wings are always in demand, that says something about the Knicks’ appeal.
The obvious draw is the franchise itself. The Knicks’ championship sheen helps.
But even with Mitchell Robinson gone, the rotation could have looked pretty locked down. Under Brown, though, that’s not how this is going to work.
He’s already shown he’ll dig deeper than a lot of coaches. Landry Shamet is the obvious example: he went from fighting for a roster spot last fall to becoming one of the seven or eight most important players on the eventual champion. But he wasn’t the only one who benefited from Brown’s willingness to keep experimenting.
Jordan Clarkson was out of the rotation last season before remaking himself as a try-hard offensive rebounder and defender and earning his way back in. Tyler Kolek got such a strong run at one point that it looked like New York might not need to trade for another guard. The Knicks still went out and got Jose Alvarado, whose playoff usage went up and down, but Brown never lost sight of him and found minutes for him on the biggest stage.
Mohamed Diawara got a real stretch of rotation minutes too. Injuries were part of that story, but he was still a rookie chosen 51st overall getting run for a contender.
That kind of flexibility is not normal for a team with serious ambitions. Plenty of contenders settle into one or two versions of the rotation and stick with them. The Knicks haven’t been operating that way, and Brown made sure of it.
So if you’re Konchar, Agbaji, Eubanks, Bruce Brown or even James Wiseman, you’re not just signing up for a final roster battle. You’re chasing a chance that could turn into real playing time, maybe more.
The Knicks can’t promise that to everyone. But with Mike Brown running the show, they’re in a much better position to offer it than just about anybody else.
In Other News...
Bruce Brown May Be Headed For A Tough Knicks Decision
Bruce Browns arrival with the Knicks adds another layer to an already crowded camp battle. After playing all 82 games last season for Denver, he landed in New York on a non-guaranteed deal and now finds himself competing with a group of veterans for what amounts to a single opening. It is the kind of roster situation that tends to sharpen every practice rep, especially for a player with Browns experience and versatility.
The problem for Brown is fit as much as it is competition. New Yorks clearest roster need is in the middle, and that puts more attention on the bigs already in the mix while making life harder for a player who does not address the Knicks most obvious hole. The team also brought in John Konchar, James Wiseman, Drew Eubanks and Ochai Agbaji on Exhibit 9 deals, so the numbers are already working against anyone trying to turn a camp invitation into a lasting spot. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Banner Night Against The Sixers Just Got An Awkward Twist
The buzz around the Knicks banner-raising opener against the Sixers took an unexpected turn when the team acknowledged a ticket pricing mistake and hit pause on individual game sales while it recalibrates the market. For a night that was supposed to feel like a celebration, the conversation instead shifted to affordability, with the club saying it will reset prices to last years levels plus an average 12% increase and make right with fans who already bought seats at the higher number.
Among those taking notice was Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had already said he would not attend after seeing how steep the initial tickets were. The rollback should ease some of the frustration around one of the seasons most anticipated games, but it also leaves the opening-night spotlight split between the on-court festivities and an uncomfortable reminder of how quickly a marquee event can turn into a public relations problem. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Could Benefit From A Clippers Crunch At Center
The Knicks have already added some help at center by signing James Wiseman and Drew Eubanks, but the search for more depth there has not stopped. With the season approaching, New York remains interested in fortifying the middle of its roster, especially if a younger, more intriguing option suddenly comes onto the market.
Johni Broome is the name worth watching, with the Knicks reportedly keeping tabs on his situation after the Clippers landed him in a trade with the 76ers. Los Angeles is dealing with a roster crunch that could force a difficult decision, and if Broome becomes available, New York would be among the teams ready to see whether he fits into its frontcourt plans. [Read more 🡒]