Typically, a collection of Exhibit 9 agreements doesn’t make major headlines. These are merely non-guaranteed training camp invitations that franchises routinely hand out in groups ahead of the season. Yet, for the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks, these specific signings carry real weight.
On Wednesday, New York brought in five players on these terms: Ochai Agbaji, Bruce Brown, James Wiseman, John Konchar, and Drew Eubanks. The roster currently features 13 guaranteed contracts, leaving the team with just over $3 million of breathing room before hitting the second tax apron. Consequently, they have only enough financial flexibility to sign one more player before opening night, and these five candidates will battle for that remaining roster spot.
A similar battle turned out to be incredibly important last autumn, when the Knicks invited Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon, and Garrison Mathews to try out under nearly identical salary cap limitations. Shamet ultimately carved out a crucial role in New York’s title-winning campaign, earning himself a subsequent four-year contract extension.
Naturally, New York would love to find another diamond in the rough among this year’s quintet, though the likelihood of repeating that outcome remains slim. It is uncommon for a player battling for the final roster spot to secure enough playing time to make a meaningful difference. Even if opportunities arise, there is no assurance that a player unsigned until September can capitalize on them. Ultimately, these are high-risk, low-reward gambles. Players of Landry Shamet’s caliber do not come along often.
Nevertheless, these transactions are important pieces of New York’s overall summer strategy, as the reigning titleholders currently look a bit unfinished. To avoid crossing the second apron, the front office let vital reserve center Mitchell Robinson walk, and he subsequently joined the rival Boston Celtics. While he was theoretically replaced by Andre Drummond, that swap represents a clear step backward.
It is no secret that the Knicks are searching for additional frontcourt depth. Prior to finalizing these Exhibit 9 deals, they attempted to orchestrate a trade for Yves Missi of the New Orleans Pelicans, but negotiations stalled. They subsequently extended a restricted free-agent offer sheet to Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cissé, which Dallas quickly matched, forcing New York to look elsewhere.
A route to acquiring a postseason-ready big man?
Eubanks, an established veteran traveler, and Wiseman, selected second overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, represent low-risk gambles in the frontcourt. Eubanks gave the Sacramento Kings decent backup minutes at times last year, and though Wiseman has played just five games in two years following an Achilles tear, his high draft stock suggests potential still remains. Even so, neither is projected to be a major contributor in a deep postseason run for New York.
Should New York acquire another center capable of contributing in the playoffs, it will likely happen via a trade.
This is where Brown, Konchar, and Agbaji become relevant. While the Knicks could have used all their training camp invites on frontcourt players to maximize their options, they chose instead to bring in three wings to an already crowded position. Shamet, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson, and Miles McBride are all firmly entrenched in their roles from last season, while Mohamed Diawara and Tyler Kolek demonstrated they can handle more responsibility during their run last year. This creates a logjam on the perimeter, which New York can leverage in a trade if any of the new Exhibit 9 signees show they can fill the void.
The most logical trade asset is McBride, who is currently on the final year of a highly team-friendly contract. Set to earn just under $4 million this year, he could command three times that amount on the open market next summer. Although he is eligible for an extension during the year, New York’s focus on staying beneath the second apron means they might not have the financial capacity to retain him. Much of this hinges on the long-term cost of keeping Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart.
Consequently, McBride stands out as a highly realistic piece to move if New York decides to seek out frontcourt reinforcements before the trade deadline. Given how close they are to the second apron limits, their options are quite constrained. They would most likely seek a young center on a rookie scale or an undervalued veteran on a cheap contract. However, by packaging McBride alongside their newly tradable 2033 first-round selection, they possess the assets to make a move if the right target is put on the block. Currently, there is no obvious candidate on the radar. Perhaps New Orleans will reconsider parting with Missi, or another franchise with plenty of big men and a desire for draft capital will enter talks. If that happens, expect New York to act quickly.
Will any of these five acquisitions dramatically alter New York’s championship defense? It is highly unlikely. Wiseman and Agbaji offer potential due to where they were drafted. Brown has proven playoff experience from his title run with the 2023 Denver Nuggets, but that same team brought him back last year and was sufficiently unimpressed to let him go this offseason. Eubanks has traveled widely across the league, and Konchar appeared to fall out of the rotation in Memphis. There is a clear reason these athletes remained unsigned as training camp approached.
Even so, the Knicks excel at finding value along the fringes of their roster. Shamet turned out to be an incredible pickup under comparable conditions, and whether it happens directly on the court or via a future transaction, one of these new additions could have a similar influence in resolving the frontcourt vacancy left by Robinson’s departure.
