The Knicks have added another developmental piece to the mix, this time pulling forward Igor Milicic out of the Philadelphia 76ers’ pipeline on an Exhibit 10 deal heading into training camp.
Milicic, 24, is still trying to carve out his path to an official NBA landing spot, and New York is the latest stop in a journey that has already taken him from Poland to Germany and then across three college programs in the United States. The deal gives him a chance to work with the defending champions in camp, even if the path to the final roster is a steep one.
Milicic’s basketball road in the U.S. began in 2021, when he entered the NCAA after playing overseas. He started at the University of Virginia, where he appeared in 16 games as a freshman before entering the transfer portal. From there, he moved to Charlotte and posted a better stretch with the 49ers, averaging 7.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 35 games.
His final college stop came at Tennessee, where he spent two seasons in the SEC and started all 37 of his games. He played 25.4 minutes per contest, shot 47.2% from the field, and finished with averages of 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Milicic entered the 2025 NBA Draft hoping to hear his name called, but that never happened. Philadelphia brought him in on a training camp deal after the draft, then sent him to its G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, when he didn’t make the roster.
With Delaware, Milicic played 32 games and logged 18.3 minutes per night. He shot 42.5% from the field and 25.2% from beyond the arc, while averaging 7.0 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Now he’s with the Knicks, and that Exhibit 10 arrangement should make it easier for New York to keep him in the developmental mix for the upcoming season. It also continues a quiet offseason connection between the two organizations.
Milicic is the second player tied to the Sixers to end up in New York this summer, following veteran center Andre Drummond, who signed with the Knicks in late June. Philadelphia answered by replacing Drummond’s spot with former Knicks center Ariel Hukporti, who did not receive an extended option from the team.
In Other News...
76ers Rookie Labaron Philon Already Faces One Tough Rotation Hurdle
Labaron Philon Jr. gave the 76ers enough to like in Summer League, especially on the scoring end, but the early read on the rookie guard is hardly a simple one. Philadelphia has reason to be intrigued by his offensive feel, yet his thin frame stands out in a way that matters for a team trying to compete now, where every rotation spot has to carry weight on both ends.
The cautious part of the evaluation comes from defense, where the coaching staff reportedly wants more proof that Philon can handle the physical demands of the regular season. In a setup like this, upside alone is not usually enough, and a young guard has to show he can stay on the floor without becoming a target. For Philon, the path is clear enough: add strength, tighten the defensive end, and make it harder for the staff to leave him out of the nightly mix. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Final Roster Spot Could Fuel LeBrons Title Push
The 76ers have already reshaped their offseason in a major way, adding Jaylen Brown and bringing in LeBron James on a two-year deal, then further strengthening the rotation with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after his buyout from Memphis. It is the kind of aggressive roster building that signals a clear push to contend right away, with the front office still showing a willingness to keep tinkering even after the headline moves are done.
Maxi Kleber has emerged as a possible candidate for Philadelphias final roster spot, and the fit is easy to see for a team trying to balance star power with usable depth. The decision on that last opening could matter more than it usually does, since the Sixers are not merely filling out the back end of the roster but shaping the supporting cast around a group built to chase a championship run. [Read more 🡒]
76ers May Have Finally Unlocked Nick Nurses Best Formula
The 76ers have spent much of the offseason trying to give Nick Nurse something he has not always had in Philadelphia: a deeper, more flexible roster that lets him mix and match instead of just surviving the night. With several new players added, the team now has more ways to cover spots, adjust lineups and lean into the kind of varied, pressure-filled style Nurse has favored since his championship run with Toronto.
For Nurse, that matters because his first season with the 76ers was never really built to showcase his best ideas. Injuries and a tight roster left him with limited room to experiment, which made every absence feel like a structural problem. This time, the question is whether the added depth finally gives him the personnel to coach the way he wants, and whether that can translate into a more stable, adaptable version of Philadelphia over the course of the season. [Read more 🡒]