The Knicks have reportedly signed veteran level guard Malcolm Brogdon to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract — however did so with none remaining area beneath the second apron to ensure his deal if he earns a regular-season roster spot.
Which suggests the strain is on Tyler Kolek.
The second-year guard spent most of his rookie season exterior the rotation, solely seeing actual minutes when Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Cam Payne had been concurrently sidelined resulting from damage. Now, Kolek’s future in New York could hinge on whether or not the Knicks select to make room for Brogdon.
For Brogdon’s deal to turn out to be absolutely assured — and for the Knicks to stay second-apron compliant — the entrance workplace would want to clear wage through commerce.
That makes Kolek probably the most logical cap casualty. In contrast to Pacome Dadiet or Ariel Hukporti — the Knicks’ different developmental gamers — Kolek shares a place with Brogdon. And whereas he was chosen thirty fourth general within the 2024 NBA Draft, the Marquette product by no means gained traction below Tom Thibodeau. His temporary minutes had been marred by defensive lapses and the constraints that include his lack of positional dimension — whilst his playmaking imaginative and prescient and streaky three-point capturing confirmed actual promise.
Now his roster spot may be very a lot in query.
Brogdon, regardless of an in depth damage historical past, is a confirmed, playoff-tested level guard — a luxurious behind an All-Star in Brunson and two high quality reserves in Jordan Clarkson and McBride. He’s solely performed 60-plus video games in two seasons since profitable Rookie of the Yr in 2017, however even with that caveat, his profession averages — 15.4 factors, 4.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 39% from three — communicate for themselves.
The Knicks don’t want Brogdon to play 82 video games. They simply want him to be prepared when it counts.
If he earns a spot, he’ll possible be the fourth guard in a deep backcourt, providing poise, playmaking and veteran calm when Brunson wants a breather. In a vacuum, Brogdon is a perfect situational guard for a contending crew — the sort of insurance coverage that may swing a playoff recreation.
That brings us again to Kolek, who is about to make $2.2 million this upcoming season and has three years remaining on his rookie contract. If the Knicks wish to lock in Brogdon’s deal and keep below the apron, they might look to maneuver Kolek in change for a future second-round choose. Groups like Utah, Washington, Charlotte or Brooklyn — franchises in want of level guard depth or low-cost prospects — might be practical touchdown spots.
After all, non-guaranteed coaching camp offers don’t all the time flip into roster spots. Brogdon nonetheless has to show he’s wholesome. Final summer season, the Knicks signed Landry Shamet to an analogous deal, just for him to dislocate his shoulder within the preseason. The danger is actual — however so is the upside.
The transfer additionally continues the Knicks’ offseason development: constructing a deeper, extra versatile roster for one more playoff push. After falling brief within the Japanese Convention Finals towards Indiana, the entrance workplace fired Thibodeau and employed two-time Coach of the Yr Mike Brown, re-signed Mikal Bridges, and added Clarkson, Yabusele and Shamet — now adopted by Brogdon’s non-guaranteed pact.
Brogdon’s deal could also be written in pencil, however the strain his presence applies to Kolek is indelible. The Knicks are clear about their course: each transfer is geared towards ending a 52-year championship drought.
They’ve already moved on from former picks like RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes plus key fixtures in Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle. If Kolek is the following domino to fall, it’ll be a small worth to pay for a crew aiming to take the ultimate step towards an NBA title.
