The last cuts at the end of training camp are always the hardest. The same holds true this preseason for the New York Knicks.
The Knicks have three players they like, but can only be enamored with one. They might be able to keep two, but that would involve making a move.
However, they definitely will not keep all three.
The Knicks currently have 14 players on standard deals. That leaves room for one more, unless they make a trade for draft picks or future considerations.
Should they make a trade to a team that has the cap space under the second apron to take on their guaranteed contracts, the Knicks could then keep two of the three candidates.
So, what are the Knicks to do with Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews. It was originally thought the Knicks would keep two of the three. Now, it appears as though there might only be one roster spot to be utilized by the winner of the open competition between the three.
The Knicks will have to make up their minds by 5 p.m. on Saturday. That is when the Grim Reaper will come to see at least one of the players, but chances are it will be two. That is the deadline for clubs to waive players that are on non-guaranteed contracts. Final rosters have to be set by Monday, Oct. 20.
SNY's Ian Begley said "before these [three] players agreed to join the Knicks, the club told agents that there would be a true competition for the one open spot."
One of the players vouched for the comment.
“That’s what they said,” Mathews said Monday night. “It’s a tough roster; let’s see what happens.”
If the Knicks do make a move to keep two of the players, trading Miles McBride, Pacome Dadiet or Tyler Kolek, who led the Knicks in scoring Monday night, would seem the most logical way to go.
McBride has played well enough this preseason to keep him, but he would probably also have the most trade value. He is a coveted player by coach Mike Brown and is heavily relied upon in the early rotation. It would take a lot for the Knicks to move him at this point. He is also eligible for a veteran extension at the end of the calendar year.
Dadiet and Kolek were both drafted in 2024. Dadiet was a first-round selection. The question the Knicks have to ask themselves is whether they want to gamble on a veteran or continue to develop talent that they just drafted last season.
The time for the Knicks to win an NBA title is here and now. With the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers both missing their star players due to injuries, there is an opening for the Knicks to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals again and actually play for an NBA championship.
The threshold question is which players will be around to help them get there.