New York Knicks Training Camp Roster Battles Explained

The quick list

• Best overall: Bruce Brown, for a contender that needs an injury-proof connector rather than a scorer.
• Best value: Drew Eubanks, for New York if the final place is strictly about maintaining a playable second center.
• Best upside: James Wiseman, for a roster willing to gamble on vertical athleticism and developmental variance.
• Best for defensive lineup flexibility: John Konchar, for units that need low-maintenance wing defense and quick decisions.
• Best for a shooting bet: Ochai Agbaji, for New York if his jumper holds up well enough to justify a larger wing rotation.

The actual decision is not which former first-round pick has the best résumé

The Knicks are not choosing a camp story. They are deciding which player most credibly survives the possessions that tend to determine reserve minutes: defensive rebounding, transition defense, low-usage spacing, and not collapsing the offense when a starter rests.

CBS Sports reported that Bruce Brown, James Wiseman, Drew Eubanks, John Konchar and Ochai Agbaji were brought in to compete for the final roster spot on Exhibit 9 deals. [9] The Athletic’s short report described two open spots, so the exact roster arithmetic should not be treated as settled publicly. [1]

The more important point is financial. JJNBA lists New York at a $220.9 million payroll, $20.4 million above the luxury-tax line and $11.8 million above the first apron for 2026-27. [5] That means a camp winner is not merely depth.

The Knicks cannot simply patch a mismatch later with their usual menu of exceptions and trade constructions. The independent salary research says they cannot use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, cannot execute sign-and-trades, and face trade salary-matching restrictions. [5][12]

That context favors functional redundancy over name recognition. A player who can cover a specific regular-season failure point has a stronger case than one whose appeal depends on reclaiming a version of himself from several seasons ago.

Comparison table: five camp candidates, five different lineup answers

“Price” needs careful handling here. Exhibit 9 deals are non-guaranteed training-camp contracts, not standard guaranteed roster salaries. The reported $3,506,659 for Brown and $3,066,143 for Wiseman only become relevant if they make the opening-night roster on standard minimum contracts. [1][2][3]

No comparable reported salary figures were supplied for Eubanks, Konchar or Agbaji. It would be misleading to assign a price to them merely because every player is competing under the same camp-contract mechanism.

Best overall: Bruce Brown offers the clearest playoff-language skill set

Brown’s case is easy to understand from film, even if the fit is not automatic. He is not valuable because he produces a particular point total, but because he can occupy a possession without stopping it.

On offense, the useful version of Brown screens for a ball-handler, cuts after the defense turns its head, attacks an already tilted closeout, and makes the next pass. Those are connector actions, and they matter beside higher-usage Knicks creators.

His championship experience with Denver is relevant only in that narrower sense. CBS Sports noted that Brown had been a legitimate contributor for the 2023 Nuggets, while also noting Denver did not re-sign him after bringing him back more recently. [9]

The tape-based concern is positional duplication. New York already has perimeter options including Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson, Miles McBride, Mohamed Diawara and Tyler Kolek, according to CBS Sports’ roster framing. [9]

Brown has to prove more than “I can play.” He needs to show that his defensive versatility, transition work and off-ball decisions solve a problem those incumbents cannot solve, especially in bigger wing lineups.

Best value: Drew Eubanks has the simplest route to useful minutes

Eubanks is not the glamour pick, but the Knicks’ roster logic may make him the most direct answer. CBS Sports identified the club’s search for another big as a continuing priority after Mitchell Robinson departed and Andre Drummond arrived. [9]

A backup center’s job is less complicated than a reserve wing’s. Set a sturdy screen, get to the rim on the dive, protect the defensive glass, show enough paint presence to deter a layup, then avoid fouls and missed coverages.

That does not make Eubanks a projected postseason answer. CBS Sports characterized him as an experienced journeyman and suggested it was hard to see either Eubanks or Wiseman factoring seriously in a playoff rotation. [9]

But regular-season possessions still count. If New York needs to survive ten minutes without asking Karl-Anthony Towns or another frontcourt starter to absorb every screen-and-roll collision, Eubanks gives the coaching staff a conventional structure.

His trade-off is ceiling. He is a stabilizer, not a scheme-bending defender or an offensive release valve, so his candidacy rises if camp reveals that reliability is more valuable than developmental upside.

Best upside: James Wiseman is a bet on tools, not a finished defensive role

Wiseman supplies the most visible physical upside among the centers, but camp should be evaluated through the details of the Knicks’ coverages. The question is whether he can execute the call before the ball reaches the restricted area.

In drop coverage, that means arriving at the correct depth, containing the ball-handler without surrendering a direct pull-up, then recovering to the roller. In a switch or late-clock scramble, it means recognizing where the next pass is headed.

CBS Sports reported Wiseman played only five games over the previous two seasons because of a torn Achilles tendon. [9] That context makes availability as important as any highlight-level rim run or finish above the basket.

His reported $3,066,143 number should not be read as New York paying for a reclamation project in advance. SalarySwish and subsequent reporting list that figure, but the Exhibit 9 agreement is non-guaranteed. [2][3]

Wiseman suits the Knicks if camp reveals enough defensive dependability to unlock his vertical pressure. If it does not, Eubanks’ more familiar backup-center layout may fit a title contender’s regular-season priorities better.

Best for defensive flexibility: John Konchar has to win a crowded wing audition

Konchar’s pathway differs from Brown’s because he does not need to become a secondary creator. He needs to make every lineup around him easier to coach: defend his matchup, relocate correctly, rebound his position, and move the ball.

That profile can matter when a defense loads up on New York’s primary scorers. The best reserve wing possessions often involve no box-score event at all, just a sound closeout, an extra pass, and a prevented transition chance.

The obstacle is the depth chart, not necessarily the skill package. CBS Sports specifically described the Knicks as having a perimeter surplus, which makes this a battle for a scarce role rather than an open wing rotation. [9]

Konchar therefore suits a roster spot reserved for contingency value. If injuries force New York into larger defensive units or if it wants a low-usage player beside shot creators, his layout makes sense.

Best shooting bet: Ochai Agbaji needs the jumper to create his own roster argument

Agbaji’s case is the most dependent on one scalable skill: credible perimeter shooting. A wing defender who is ignored in the corner changes the floor geometry for everyone else, because the opponent can park an extra defender near the ball.

If Agbaji makes defenses honor the catch-and-shoot attempt, his athletic profile can complement that spacing. He can then be deployed as a simpler wing option, defending up the lineup and running lanes without requiring designed touches.

The Knicks cannot assume that outcome. Camp shooting numbers, if any emerge, are less meaningful than the tape of whether defenders hug the corners, chase him off pin-downs, or help off him to crowd New York’s stars.

Agbaji suits the Knicks if they prioritize a future-facing wing bet rather than a direct replacement for Robinson’s interior minutes. In the immediate roster construction, that is a harder argument than solving the center problem.

What to expect from the Knicks this season

New York should still be judged by its high-end lineups, not by whether a final camp signing becomes a postseason fixture. The camp battle matters because it can prevent a weak second-unit stretch from becoming a larger rotation problem.

Last season’s Landry Shamet outcome is the tempting precedent. CBS Sports reported that Shamet won a comparable competition, became an essential role player during the championship run, and later re-signed for four years. [9]

That is evidence that a camp audition can matter, not proof that it will happen again. There is no public historical success-rate data showing how often Knicks Exhibit 9 signings make a meaningful impact. [6][7]

The sensible expectation is a situational winner. Brown could be the first perimeter injury replacement, Eubanks could absorb ordinary backup-center work, Wiseman could earn developmental minutes, while Konchar and Agbaji could pressure the wing depth through specific matchups.

Myles Turner’s September election as an NBPA executive-committee vice president does not alter this Knicks calculation. His three-year union role concerns player representation under the existing collective bargaining agreement, which runs through 2029-30. [11]

Who each option suits

Bruce Brown suits a win-now roster spot if New York wants the most playoff-legible wing skill set. His best argument is that he can fit next to stars without needing the offense shaped around him.

Drew Eubanks suits a practical center need if the Knicks value reliable structure over upside. He is the cleanest answer to minutes that require screens, rebounds and uncomplicated paint coverage.

James Wiseman suits a development-minded gamble if the staff believes his athletic tools can hold up within its defensive rules. His upside is higher than Eubanks’, but his range of outcomes is wider.

John Konchar suits a low-usage defensive contingency role if New York wants another player who can enter a lineup without redirecting possessions toward himself. His challenge is proving he is distinct from existing perimeter depth.

Ochai Agbaji suits a shooting-dependent wing projection if his jumper commands real defensive attention. If it does, his athleticism becomes more usable. If it does not, the Knicks’ established guards and wings make his route narrow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the main players competing in the Knicks 2026 training camp roster battles?

The main players competing for the final roster spots on Exhibit 9 contracts are Bruce Brown, James Wiseman, Drew Eubanks, John Konchar, and Ochai Agbaji. These players are battling for limited openings, with the exact number of available spots not publicly confirmed but reported as one or two.

What impact do Exhibit 9 contracts have on the Knicks training camp roster?

Exhibit 9 contracts are non-guaranteed deals that allow players to attend training camp without a guaranteed salary unless they make the opening-night roster. Both Bruce Brown and James Wiseman signed such contracts, meaning their reported salaries are not guaranteed unless they secure a roster spot. This structure creates an open competition rather than a predetermined role for these players.

How is the Knicks' salary cap situation influencing their training camp decisions?

The Knicks are $20.4 million above the luxury tax line and $11.8 million above the first apron for the 2026-27 season, with a $220.9 million payroll. This restricts their ability to add players through exceptions or sign-and-trade deals, making internal roster decisions in training camp more consequential. They favor players who provide functional redundancy and can fill specific needs without costly external acquisitions.

Which players have the best chance to make the Knicks roster from training camp?

While no official statements have been made about guaranteed roles, Bruce Brown is considered the best overall candidate due to his defensive versatility and ability to facilitate offense without high usage. Drew Eubanks and James Wiseman have strong cases as centers to fill second-unit needs, with Wiseman offering upside as a developmental player. John Konchar and Ochai Agbaji provide options for wing defense and shooting depth, respectively.

What roles are the Knicks looking to fill through training camp roster battles?

The Knicks seek players who can contribute in low-usage roles that emphasize defensive rebounding, transition defense, spacing, and maintaining offensive flow when starters rest. Specifically, they need a reliable backup center for second-unit minutes, perimeter defenders who can guard multiple assignments, and wings who can provide shooting and defensive flexibility without overlapping existing depth.

How we researched this

This article was assembled from 3 published articles, 12 cited references.

Nothing here is based on hands-on testing. Where a figure or finding appears, it belongs to the source cited beside it, and the writing says so rather than implying otherwise. Every source is listed below so you can check it.

Sources

• James Wiseman, Bruce Brown among deep list of Knicks training camp signings — The Athletic NBA

• Knicks staging another training camp battle for final roster spot after last year's helped win them the title — CBS Sports NBA

• Myles Turner Elected Vice President Of NBPA Executive Committee — RealGM

• NEW YORK KNICKS SIGN BRUCE BROWN TO AN EXHIBIT 9 CONTRACT | New York Knicks

• New York Knicks Contract Signings | SalarySwish

• Knicks Sign James Wiseman, Bruce Brown to Exhibit 9 Contracts - Athlon

• Knicks Sign James Wiseman, Bruce Brown to Contracts, Updated Roster Ahead of NBA Training Camp

• NBA Salary Cap Sheets 2026-27 - All 30 Teams | JJNBA

• New York Knicks sign 3 players to Exhibit 9 deals

• Knicks sign Marcus Morris, Landry Shamet to Exhibit 9 deals - ESPN

• Knicks sign Bruce Brown to training camp contract, sets up fight for roster spot - NBC Sports

• The next Landry Shamet? Knicks staging another training camp battle for final roster spot - CBS Sports

• Knicks roster 2026-27: depth chart, lineup, stats, contracts · Knicks Nightly

• MYLES TURNER ELECTED NBPA VICE PRESIDENT - National Basketball Players Association

• Así funciona el impuesto de lujo en la NBA: cuánto se paga, en qué casos ocurre y dónde va ese dinero

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