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Two New Veterans Are On Knicks’ Radar, But Can They Sign Both?

Fadeaway World · Siddhant Gupta · 2026-09-04T13:01:49+00:00 · nguồn gốc

After ending a 53-year-long title drought this year, the New York Knicks will enter the 2026-27 season with the intention of winning it all again. But do they have the roster to do it? For the most part, the Knicks’ roster remains relatively unchanged. With the core still comprising Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges, New York is formidable. However, the departure of some key players this summer could have a greater impact than expected. As things stand, the Knicks field a 13-man roster. Although they are intent on filling the 14th spot, New York’s second apron restrictions prevent them from making any noteworthy moves. Despite this, SNY’s Ian Begley reported that the Knicks may have two veterans on their radar who could be meaningful additions on minimum contracts. Begley wrote: “Per SNY sources, guard-forward John Konchar and forward-center Drew Eubanks are among the players on New York’s radar as we draw closer to training camp. Konchar, recently waived and stretched after a trade to Minnesota, is known as a strong rebounder/defender/offensive connector who can knock down perimeter shots over his seven-year NBA career.” “Eubanks’ 2025-26 season in Sacramento was cut short in March following surgery to repair a UCL tear in his left thumb. The 6-foot-10 veteran would presumably be competing with a couple of other big men for the Knicks’ third center spot.” Earlier reports indicated that the Knicks could view players like Kelly Olynyk, Kevin Love, or even Gabe Vincent as potential additions to their roster this summer. However, with Begley’s report effectively overriding these claims, both John Konchar and Drew Eubanks could be considered frontrunners. But can the Knicks sign them? Who Can The Knicks Sign? As mentioned earlier, New York’s most pressing concern about making new additions is their current cap situation. Although the Knicks have succeeded in convincing players to sign minimum deals to play for them, the investment in the core has forced them to make tough calls. Currently, the Knicks’ active cap is $218.4 million, which is only $3.2 million below the second apron. Since veteran minimum deals differ based on experience, players like Kevin Love, who have more than 10 years of experience, were already unlikely candidates. However, since both Eubanks and Konchar have less than 10 years of experience, the Knicks could sign one of them. John Konchar is positioned as a reliable veteran wing at this point in his career. While he isn’t necessarily an offensive threat, his versatility as a two-way player and his ability to knock down threes consistently are quite impressive. During his brief stint with the Utah Jazz last season, John Konchar averaged 5.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.5% from the field. Although his three-point shooting with the Jazz was underwhelming, his career shooting average of 34.9% from beyond the arc may be promising. While Konchar has two-way upside as a wing, Drew Eubanks establishes himself as a reliable veteran big man. Although Eubanks has developed a reputation as a journeyman, the center has found ways to make an impact. In his previous stint with the Sacramento Kings, Eubanks averaged 5.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 59.6% from the field. For the most part, he has struggled to earn consistent playing time. Still, if he earns more minutes in the Knicks’ rotation, especially behind Andre Drummond, he could be impactful. On paper, Eubanks appears to be better suited to the Knicks’ needs. However, there is reason to believe Konchar may be the better addition. The Knicks’ offense depends heavily on perimeter shooting and high-intensity defense. While adding a big man would be the rational decision, having a versatile wing who can come off the bench, rebound, and connect the plays in transition would be far more worthwhile. Financially, signing Konchar is also more feasible than Eubanks. Since the former has seven years of NBA experience, he is eligible for a minimum of roughly $3.3 million per year. Meanwhile, Eubanks, with eight years of experience, is eligible for a minimum of $3.5 million. At $3.3 million, Konchar’s addition could send the Knicks over the second apron. However, if the team gets creative by structuring a multi-year deal, New York could remain below it.