Tyler Nickel’s Summer League run has done more than turn heads. It has started to redraw the Knicks’ depth chart.
Nickel has now hit from three in four straight games, and the early Vegas showing is making one thing clear: the shooting wing looked exactly like the player New York hoped it was getting after his college production from deep. The Knicks still have to figure out what kind of contract to hand him, but the bigger takeaway is hard to miss - he looks too good to leave out of the picture for the 2026-27 season.
That kind of emergence tends to create ripple effects, and Nickel’s case is already putting pressure on several names in the organization.
The most obvious squeeze may come for fellow rookie Jack Kayil. Kayil went earlier, at No. 39, while Nickel came off the board at No. 47, but the Summer League gap has tilted the conversation. Nickel’s value as a shooting wing is the kind of profile teams covet, and that could make him the more appealing option for the main roster or even a two-way spot.
New York has three two-way slots to work with, so Kayil still has a path. But the Knicks could also decide to use those spots on veteran centers, which would make the rookie logjam even tighter. In that scenario, Kayil could wind up overseas, especially with the team already having one rookie to sign.
Nickel’s rise doesn’t just affect the rookies. It also lands in the lap of Landry Shamet, who shares the clearest overlap with him.
Both are wings. Both can stretch the floor.
And while New York brought Shamet back this offseason, the deal was structured in a way that leaves room for future release or trade options. If Nickel proves he can deliver similar production at a much lower cost, the Knicks could eventually be tempted to split with Shamet.
Miles McBride is another name worth watching. His expiring contract and scoring ability make him the most obvious trade candidate on the roster, even if he isn’t really a primary creator.
Nickel’s emergence adds another layer there, because New York could decide it doesn’t need McBride as much if the rookie is ready right away and the second unit looks strong. That would open the door to moving McBride before he reaches free agency, especially if the return helps at backup center or addresses another need that pops up during the season.
The pressure doesn’t stop there. Jeremy Clarkson, despite being 34 years old, is also in the mix.
His role bounced around during last season and the Finals run, and he didn’t exactly lock down his spot with his first year in New York. He even waived his no-trade power to come back, which suggests the Knicks could revisit his place later on.
And after spending 34% of his minutes at small forward in 2025-26, he’s one of the players most likely to lose playing time to Nickel.
Mohamed Diawara is in a similar spot. Even after signing a four-year extension, he still hasn’t carved out a clear role.
His start to a second NBA season has been rough, too, with a disappointing Summer League after expectations that he would dominate. Diawara and Nickel both fit the 3-and-D forward mold, which sets up a direct competition if Nickel gets real rookie minutes.
Diawara has the edge in experience, but the contract situation also gives New York flexibility to move on or move him aside if another young player earns the opportunity.
For the Knicks, Nickel’s breakout has created a crowded, complicated, and very promising problem. If the Summer League version is the real thing, New York may have found a second-round steal - and a player who can shake up the rotation before the season even starts.
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Aaron Wiggins was brought in earlier this month to help the bench offense, and the broader picture is clear enough for the Knicks to notice. Atlanta is trying to turn last springs playoff resistance into something sturdier for the next meeting, and the additions are designed to make that path a lot less forgiving for a team that would rather not see this opponent again in a high-stakes series. [Read more 🡒]