The Post’s Stefan Bondy breaks down the Knicks roster ahead of training camp:
asserted
Bondy → break → camp
Ochai Agbaji, 26, SG, 6-5, 215
Agbaji is a long shot to make the final roster but carries intrigue as a former 14th overall pick.
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Agbaji → make → pick
He finished last season with the Nets and could only secure a non-guaranteed deal in free agency.
uncertain
He → finish → agency
OG Anunoby, 29, F, 6-7, 240
Achieved well deserved acclaim after an outstanding playoff run, including the most important shot in franchise history.
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Anunoby → achieve → history
Mikal Bridges, 30, G, 6-6, 200
A championship means the five first-round picks are an afterthought, perhaps easing Bridges’ mind as he enters Year 3 with the franchise.
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he → mean → franchise
He’s also set to earn a career-high $33.5 million this season as the fourth or fifth option on offense.
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He → set → offense
We should see a happier Bridges starting in training camp.
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Bridges → see → camp
Bruce Brown, 30, G, 6-4, 202
Surprising that Brown was only able to secure a non-guaranteed deal in free agency, leaving him in a tight battle for a roster spot.
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Brown → secure → spot
Brown has better pedigree than the competition as a real contributor to the 2023 Nuggets championship team — not to mention he started every game for Denver last season — but the Knicks don’t need another guard.
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he → mention → guard
He will need to impress in camp and preseason to earn a spot.
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He → need → spot
Jalen Brunson, 30, PG, 6-2, 205
You don’t have to worry about Brunson’s motivation after being crowned the King of New York.
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You → worry → York
But his surgically repaired wrist is worth watching in preseason.
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wrist → repair → preseason
Does it impact his shot?
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it → impact → shot
Did the two-month recovery disrupt his training?
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recovery → disrupt → training
Jordan Clarkson, 34, G, 6-3, 194
The Knicks elder statesman isn’t expected to have a huge role in a crowded backcourt, but he found a way to contribute by committing to defense.
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he → expect → defense
Clarkson made a lot of money in his career, scored a lot of points, won a championship.
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Clarkson → make → championship
Now he’s the veteran on a one-year deal who is popular in the locker room.
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who → ’ → room
Pacôme Dadiet, 21, F, 6-8, 220
Entering his third Knicks camp, Dadiet, a 2024 first-round pick, is standing close to the label of draft bust.
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Dadiet → enter → bust
He underwhelmed in Summer League, and there’s no reason the Knicks should pick up his $5.4 million option by the Halloween deadline.
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Knicks → underwhelme → deadline
Assuming the Knicks pass, Dadiet will be a free agent next summer.
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Dadiet → assume → ?
That means he’s a trade candidate — especially if the Knicks want to clear cap space to keep a second training-camp invite.
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Knicks → mean → invite
The problem is Dadiet has no value in the trade market, so the Knicks would have to attach draft capital to shed his salary.
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Knicks → have → salary
Mohamed Diawara, 21, F, 6-9, 225
An encouraging rookie season meant Diawara signed a new contract — four years, $11.3 million.
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Diawara → mean → contract
Only about half is guaranteed, which means he still has to show progress to stick around.
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he → guarantee → progress
He has the skill and the prototype NBA body but needs to learn more about schemes to truly grow.
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He → have → schemes
Andre Drummond, 33, C, 6-11, 280
The vet newcomer is attempting to fill the shoes of Mitchell Robinson with a slightly different skill set.
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newcomer → attempt → set
Drummond’s conditioning has been an issue the past few seasons, and we’ll get a glimpse of his mobility in preseason.
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we → get → preseason
One frontcourt injury could catapult Drummond into a huge role with the Knicks.
uncertain
injury → catapult → Knicks
Drew Eubanks, 29, C, 6-10, 245
Needs to distinguish himself in his training camp competition against James Wiseman, who is the other center on a nonguaranteed contract.
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who → need → contract
The Knicks will probably only keep one of them.
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Knicks → keep → them
Eubanks carries an experience advantage as an eight-year journeyman.
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Eubanks → carry → journeyman
Josh Hart, 31, F, 6-4, 215
Dealt with back pain, knee pain, finger pain, ankle pain and just general pain during his tenure with the Knicks.
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Hart → deal → Knicks
Hart sacrifices his body and, as he enters camp extension-eligible, you wonder whether there’s a limit.
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you → sacrifice → camp
And there’s no way the Knicks are letting Brunson’s best bud leave.
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bud → ’ → ?
Tyler Kolek, 25, PG, 6-3, 195
Demonstrated in spurts last season that he can shine as an NBA playmaker, though his defense and inability to break presses ultimately took Kolek off the court.
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defense → demonstrate → court
A strong preseason could help Kolek’s case for a rotational spot.
uncertain
preseason → help → spot
As it stands, he’s on the outside with Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride and Landry Shamet as the backcourt backups.
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he → stand → backups
Positionally, he doesn’t fit a Knicks need — they have plenty of guards — but he can be a capable NBA backup.
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he → fit → guards
Beating out Bruce Brown in training camp is Konchar’s first quest.
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Beating → beat → camp
Miles McBride, 26, PG, 6-1, 195
Under a microscope, as the Knicks have to decide what to do with their two-way guard.
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Knicks → decide → guard
…and 17 more, not listed.
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