Battle for Knicks final roster spots heats up: 'Everybody's coming in trying to compete'

Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News on Sep 24, 2025

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NEW YORK — The Knicks have a problem — the good kind.

Too many capable players. Not enough room under the second apron to keep them all.

And new head coach Mike Brown? He’s in no rush to make a decision.

At all.

The Knicks enter training camp with only one minimum salary slot beneath the NBA’s $207 million second apron — and two high-level rotation players vying for it: Landry Shamet, the sharpshooter who helped fuel New York’s rally from an 0-2 hole in the Eastern Conference finals, and Malcolm Brogdon, a steady-handed former Rookie of the Year who could serve as Jalen Brunson’s backup at point guard.

Both are on non-guaranteed deals. And both could make a case to crack the opening night roster — but not unless the Knicks shed salary first.

Brown, who took over after the team parted ways with Tom Thibodeau following its first trip to the conference finals in 25 years, said the front office has time — and he’s making one thing clear about camp: nothing is guaranteed.

Not even for the guaranteed.

“A competitive spirit. I’m big on that. I mentioned it a little bit with [Guerschon] Yabusele and Jordan [Clarkson]. For us, every day is about competition,” Brown said after Day 1 of training camp in Tarrytown on Wednesday. “Whether you’re a coach [or] you’re a player, we want to compete. We want to grow as a unit in that area, and it’s no different for everybody else individually.

“Whether you’re here on a guaranteed deal [or] you’re here on a non-guaranteed deal, you’re competing your butt off. And at the end of the day, we have a lot of time to make a decision on what’s gonna happen. But at the end of the day, we’ll figure out who we need to fit and who needs to fit, but it’s gonna be a process. There’s no one ahead of anyone right now. Everybody’s coming in trying to compete for a spot. All the guys we have we feel are competitors, so we’ll see at the end of the day who rises to the top.”

The rotation battle is already fierce.

Four starters are locked in: Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. Brown could opt for Josh Hart as a fifth starter to lean into his up-tempo style (the Knicks ran fast break drills at the end of practice then team wind sprints as a penalty for missing the day’s closing free throws) — or go with Mitchell Robinson to reinforce the front line behind Towns. Either way, Hart is a fixture.

The bench is deeper than ever. Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele are penciled in as Brown’s key reserves.

That’s nine — a full unit’s worth of playoff-viable players. But Brown prefers “nine-and-a-half to 10.” Which means the race for the final rotation spot — and final roster slot — is wide open.

Behind McBride, Clarkson and Yabusele are three returning youngsters: 2024 first-round pick Pacome Dadiet, 2024 second-round pick Tyler Kolek, and second-rounder center Ariel Hukporti, who was carving out a role behind Towns and Robinson last season before a torn meniscus shut him down early.

Now enter Brogdon and Shamet — veterans with playoff experience, clear skill sets, and a case to be on any title-contending roster.

Brogdon is the stabilizing lead guard the Knicks sorely lacked behind Brunson in last year’s playoffs, where T.J. McConnell thoroughly outplayed the Knicks reserves in the conference finals. Shamet shot nearly 40% from three last season and, when finally called upon, proved his value with the season on the line. He played just 31 total minutes in Rounds 1 and 2, then emerged as a key contributor once Thibodeau was forced to expand his rotation after falling behind 0-2.

And to add both, the Knicks must move on from one of their players at the end of the rotation. They have $204 million in guaranteed salaries and less than $3 million in room beneath Apron No. 2. The Knicks could trade Dadiet and his $2.8 million salary which increases to $3 million in Year 3 and $5.4 million in Year 4 — or move Kolek’s $2.1 million salary if they don’t believe keeping him, even on a modest deal, is worth passing on a player who can add immediate value.

One thing’s for sure: The Knicks have to make a decision. Maybe not now. Maybe not even until mid-to-late October. But at some point soon, to craft a roster built to compete for a title, New York has to decide.

And the candidates must go to war.

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