The Knicks know who their stars are. They know their rotation. What they don’t know is who’s grabbing that final roster chair.
New York enters training camp with 12 guaranteed contracts. Thanks to second-apron restrictions, the Knicks can squeeze in one more veteran minimum and one rookie minimum. That’s it.
The contract is non-guaranteed, SNY’s Ian Begley confirmed, meaning Brogdon will head into camp competing with Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews for what’s expected to be one final veteran roster spot.
Because of their second-apron restrictions, the Knicks can only carry one of those three on a veteran minimum unless they move money elsewhere. In other words, it’s a three-man battle for one chair.
Brogdon, 33 in December, has been a steady hand since winning Rookie of the Year in 2017. He’s logged stops in Milwaukee, Indiana, Boston and Portland before finishing last season with Washington.
In limited action with the Wizards, he averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 24 games before an ankle sprain shut him down after the All-Star break.
The issue, of course, has always been health. Brogdon owns career marks of 15.3 points and nearly five assists per game on highly efficient shooting, but he’s missed 249 of a possible 637 regular-season contests.
New York is sitting at 12 guaranteed deals and has enough apron space to add one veteran and one rookie minimum.
For now, it’s Brogdon, Shamet and Mathews in the mix. Training camp will decide who survives.
Free agent guard Landry Shamet is headed back to the Knicks.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Shamet has agreed to a one-year deal to return to New York, his agent George S. Langberg confirmed. It will mark Shamet’s eighth NBA season and second straight with the Knicks.
The 27-year-old guard was a solid role player last season, appearing in 50 games and averaging 5.7 points in 15.2 minutes. He shot an efficient 46 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from deep, offering floor spacing in reserve.
Shamet’s return comes as the Knicks continue to weigh options with their final roster spots. As reported here at Hoops Wire, New York explored Ben Simmons before ultimately backing off. They’ve also been linked to Malcolm Brogdon.
Originally drafted by the 76ers in 2018, Shamet has carved out a career as a dependable rotation shooter. He owns a career average of 7.7 points per game on 39 percent from three across stints with Philadelphia, the Clippers, Nets, Suns, Wizards, and Knicks.
After reports surfaced that the former No. 1 pick had no interest in a Knicks deal and no longer has an agent, the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy tied the two together. A source told Bondy that Simmons’ agent, Bernie Lee, dropped him after Simmons “sent signals that he wasn’t interested in whatever came from his agent’s conversations with the Knicks.”
It’s the latest twist for the 29-year-old, who has already been linked to New York and Boston this offseason but remains unsigned.
As we’ve written before, Simmons’ future is murky at best. He’s a three-time All-Star, but injuries and a dramatic decline in production have left his career in limbo.
Nets’ Williams waives veto: Ziaire Williams won’t have veto power if the Nets decide to trade him. Per Keith Smith of Spotrac, Williams waived his right to block a trade as part of his new two-year deal, which includes a team option for 2026-27.
Raptors waive Key: The Raptors have signed and waived guard Tyreke Key, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca.
Key, who went undrafted out of Tennessee in 2023, spent last season with Raptors 905 and averaged 6.8 points in 42 G League appearances. The Exhibit 10 maneuver allows Toronto to give him a bonus of up to $85,300 if he rejoins the 905 and sticks around for 60 days.
Despite recent buzz, the Knicks never made a formal offer to free agent guard Ben Simmons, league sources confirmed.
SNY’s Ian Begley was the first to report that while the Knicks held dialogue with Simmons’ camp earlier this summer, a contract was never on the table.
That lines up with what Hoops Wire has heard as well — there was interest, but no deal.
The 29-year-old guard-forward is currently without representation after agent Bernie Lee dropped him as a client, a move that only added to the uncertainty surrounding Simmons’ future.
Once viewed as a franchise cornerstone in Philadelphia, Simmons has struggled to regain footing since the infamous 2021 playoffs, when his offensive confidence collapsed in a second-round loss to Atlanta.
He requested a trade soon after and was eventually shipped to Brooklyn in the James Harden deal. Stops with the Nets and Clippers were marked by injuries, inconsistency, and diminishing roles.
Simmons appeared in 51 games last season between Brooklyn and Los Angeles, averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting 52 percent from the field.
That production was a far cry from his peak Sixers years, when he made three All-Star teams, two All-Defensive squads and was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year.
Now, as training camps approach, the former No. 1 pick remains unsigned and in limbo — his career at a crossroads, with the Knicks making clear that despite some exploratory conversations, they weren’t the ones to extend him a lifeline.
The Knicks had conversations with Ben Simmons’ camp this offseason and showed interest in the former All-Star, but never put a formal offer on the table, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
League sources told Begley that while New York’s front office kept Simmons on its radar, the dialogue never advanced.
Instead, the Knicks are focusing on other options for their final roster spot, including Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon.
The Simmons angle became more complicated when longtime agent Bernie Lee parted ways with him.
Marc Stein reported that Simmons effectively walked away from whatever interest the Knicks might have had, signaling he wasn’t keen on pursuing the opportunity.
Simmons, 29, remains unsigned as training camps near. He split last season between the Nets and Clippers, averaging 5.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games.
Once viewed as a franchise cornerstone, he has dealt with back issues, reduced production, and most recently, the uncertainty of playing without an agent.
The Knicks’ minimum-salary slot is still open. Simmons, meanwhile, is still weighing his future.
Shamet, 27, played 50 games for New York last season and has been working out locally in hopes of a return. Other names mentioned include Malcolm Brogdon, though Malik Beasley appears to be a long shot.
Nets and Thomas: Cam Thomas is back in Brooklyn on a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer, but that likely means he won’t be part of the Nets’ long-term plans, writes Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.
The deal gives him a no-trade clause, yet Brooklyn has little incentive to feature him heavily this season.
Thomas, 23, has put up big scoring numbers but remains undersized for a shooting guard and a defensive liability. His market next summer could hinge on how the Nets deploy him now.
Bucks fans weigh in: Bucks fans aren’t exactly brimming with confidence. In a survey of nearly 700 readers by The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, 81 percent said they were “not that confident” or “not at all confident” in Milwaukee winning the title this season.
GM Jon Horst fared better, with 83 percent expressing confidence in his direction. Coach Doc Rivers wasn’t as fortunate — 63 percent said they had little or no faith in the veteran head coach.
Bull-ish on Donovan: Bulls coach Billy Donovan was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame over the weekend. As Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times noted, the honor is well-earned, but the bigger challenge remains turning the Bulls into a playoff threat.
Donovan has guided Chicago to just one postseason appearance in four years.
Ben Simmons had a chance to join the Knicks this offseason, but turned it down.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, New York offered Simmons a one-year contract at the veteran’s minimum. Simmons declined, reportedly holding out hope for something more than a minimum deal.
At this stage, though, that may be all the market is willing to give. The Celtics also showed interest, Stein reports, but they too would be limited to a minimum offer because of apron restrictions.
Simmons, 29, was once considered a franchise cornerstone — Rookie of the Year in 2018, a three-time All-Star and the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up in 2021. But multiple back surgeries and a steady decline in offensive production have changed his trajectory.
His shot attempts per 36 minutes have dropped every season, from 13.2 as a rookie to just 7.2 last year.
He split the 2024-25 campaign between the Nets and Clippers, averaging 5.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games. Last week, Simmons’ longtime agent Bernie Lee formally cut ties with him, leaving the former No. 1 overall pick to weigh both his market and his future in the league.
One NBA team executive told Hoops Wire he believes Simmons is unlikely to play in the NBA again.
“I think his NBA career is over,” the exec said. “That’s not meant to disparage Ben. I think he can still play and probably help someone. But there are just too many things working against him right now. I know we would not have an interest in signing him.”
For now, Simmons remains unsigned, and training camps are fast approaching.
LeBron James says he knows one thing about life after playing in the NBA — it won’t involve coaching.
“I was inspired by the game. I love the game. But I don’t have coaching in my future,” James told CCTV.
James is entering season No. 23 at age 40. He wears No. 23 on his jersey. Whether he plays beyond this season may depend on how things unfold with the Lakers and free agency next summer.
Retirement would make sense at the end of this run, but James continues to produce at a high level. Some still put him in the NBA’s top 10 — though that is majorly up for debate at this stage.
Either way, LeBron says coaching won’t be on the table whenever he does hang it up.
Clarkson on New York: Jordan Clarkson said his move to the Knicks came together almost instantly. Speaking with reporters Saturday, Clarkson recalled sitting at Wimbledon when agent Rich Paul called and asked where he wanted to go after finalizing a buyout with Utah.
“I said, ‘I wanna come to New York,’” Clarkson said. “It all happened in two minutes. Then I was a Knick.”
Clarkson pointed to Madison Square Garden and the fan energy as his biggest draws. “Knowing they’re going to let you have it if you’re playing like s–t. But when you’re playing great, it’s all love,” he said. “At the end of the day, I just want to feel the energy. Get to play with y’all [Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart].”
Arison enters Hall of Fame: Heat owner Micky Arison was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday as part of the 2025 class.
“The Hall is the highest honor in basketball, but it’s not something I ever sought,” Arison said in his 10-minute speech.
Arison credited Alonzo Mourning for laying the foundation of “Heat culture” and called Dwyane Wade “the greatest player in Miami Heat history.” He also highlighted his decision to hire Pat Riley shortly after taking control of the franchise in 1995. “Our plan was simple. Do right by South Florida and build a winner,” Arison said.
During his 30 years as owner, Miami has made more playoff appearances than any other NBA team.
The Knicks enter the 2025/26 season as one of the favorites in the East after reaching the conference finals last spring. But as Stefan Bondy of The New York Post noted, staying healthy will be the key.
OG Anunoby has battled injuries in recent seasons, and Karl-Anthony Towns has also had his share of setbacks. Nearly everyone on the roster was banged up during last year’s playoff run.
To prepare, New York added veteran depth this summer, hoping to have more insurance in case of another rough stretch.
Boston changes: The Celtics are a question mark. NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg polled colleagues and found tempered expectations after a busy offseason.
Boston traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, saw Luke Kornet leave in free agency and the same will be true of Al Horford.
The bigger issue is Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, which could sideline him until the 2026-27 season.
In the meantime, the Celtics are banking on depth and development to hold the line.
Queta chasing role: Celtics center Neemias Queta, once the team’s fourth option, will compete for a bigger role alongside newcomers Luka Garza and Chris Boucher. Queta had knee surgery this offseason but told Eurohoops he feels ready.
“I got rested enough this offseason and I think that I put myself in the best position to have a breakout season,” Queta said.
Bona’s journey: Sixers second-year Sixers forward Adem Bona is suiting up for Turkey in EuroBasket.
Born in Nigeria, Bona moved to Turkey at age 13 and said that’s when he first began taking basketball seriously.
“My first basketball shoes were given to me by a friend,” Bona told BasketNews. “Basketball was just something I really liked because of the pace and the tempo.”
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is back on the court, at least in some capacity.
He posted video of himself taking free throws as he works his way back from a torn right Achilles.
Haliburton suffered the injury in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals against Oklahoma City and will miss the entire upcoming season.
It is a tough blow for Indiana, which rode Haliburton’s playmaking to the Finals after knocking out Milwaukee, Cleveland and New York. He averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists last season and made All-NBA Third Team.
Without him, and with Myles Turner gone to Milwaukee, the Pacers will not be considered a contender.
Simmons linked to Knicks: Ben Simmons is still searching for his next team, and Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus predicted it will be the Knicks.
Simmons played for the Nets and Clippers last season, averaging 5.0 points and 5.6 assists in limited minutes.
At this stage, the 28-year-old would be looking at a minimum deal.
Pincus noted the Kings were another option but penciled in Simmons to New York as a depth piece and defensive presence.
Westbrook to Sacramento? Russell Westbrook’s name also came up in Pincus’ predictions.
The longtime star could be headed to the Kings on a two-year minimum deal with a player option. Sacramento needs a backup to Dennis Schroder, and Westbrook would fit that role.
Westbrook played 75 games with Denver last season, averaging 13.3 points and 6.1 assists.
He is 36 now, but still showed he can push pace and provide energy off the bench.
Tyronn Lue cannot make sense of the Knicks’ decision to move on from Tom Thibodeau.
“Should he have been fired? Hell no,” the Clippers coach said on the Club Shay Shay podcast. “It’s the first time they’ve been to the conference finals in 25 years. The city was on fire, the fans were on fire. The players did a hell of a job. And Thibs did a hell of a job.
“To take a team to their first conference finals in 25 years and then get fired, it just doesn’t make sense.”
Thibodeau, still owed more than $35 million, was let go days after the Knicks were eliminated by Indiana in the East finals. The team offered no explanation beyond Leon Rose saying the organization was “singularly focused on winning a championship.”
Lue was not buying the idea that losing to Indiana was cause for dismissal. The Pacers also knocked out the Bucks and Cavaliers before falling one win short of the title.
“So everybody that Indiana beat, you want to fire their coach?” Lue said.
The Clippers coach added that the move puts unfair pressure on Mike Brown, who takes over in New York with the bar set at nothing less than the Finals.
“That’s a tough spot to be in,” Lue said, noting that unlike when he inherited a Finals team in Cleveland, the Knicks do not have LeBron James to lean on.
Lue also dismissed common critiques about Thibodeau’s heavy minutes load.
“Everywhere he’s been, he wins,” he said. “To do that, I thought it was crazy.”
The Knicks handled most of their business this summer. Mikal Bridges got his extension. Mike Brown was hired as head coach. Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson were signed in free agency.
Robinson has been a major factor in New York’s back-to-back playoff runs, but his health remains a constant concern. He has played only 48 games combined over the last two regular seasons.
According to James Edwards III of The Athletic, the Knicks could be open to a team-friendly extension. But if Robinson prefers to bet on himself, talks could get tricky. Edwards added that if Robinson stays healthy through the first half of the season, the Knicks might consider trading him instead of risking a free agency departure without return.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Brown is expected to bring more structure and faster pace. Jalen Brunson could be impacted the most. He held the ball longer than any player in the NBA last season at 6.06 seconds per touch. Tyrese Haliburton, for comparison, averaged 3.65.
The Knicks believe that getting Brunson to make quicker reads, especially when it comes to finding Karl-Anthony Towns on the perimeter, could add unpredictability to the offense.
Another player to watch is Miles McBride. Stefan Bondy of the New York Post wrote that McBride could take on more point-of-attack defensive duties, freeing Bridges to guard secondary scorers and keeping Brunson out of difficult matchups.
Of course, not everyone is sold on the Knicks’ new direction. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said on the Club Shay Shay podcast that firing Tom Thibodeau after the team’s first conference finals appearance in 25 years “doesn’t make sense.” Lue added that Brown is walking into “a tough spot” given the expectations now in place.
Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving says he’s making steady progress five months after ACL surgery — but Dallas continues to stress patience, even as the recovery is described as “ahead of schedule.”
“I was in the gym doing a little bit more,” Irving said. “It’s all about incremental growth… it was some good days in the gym. I’m healing up great.”
Irving, 33, tore his left ACL on March 3 and had surgery later that month. The typical return window for pros is 8–12 months, which puts his target date anywhere between January and mid-2026. GM Nico Harrison has already made clear: the Mavs will not fast-track him.
Haliburton sets timeline for return: Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton joined the Impaulsive podcast and guessed when fans will see him again after tearing his right Achilles in Game 7 of the Finals.
“Basically, from the injury, I think 15 months until I play my next game,” Haliburton said.
That puts his return in late 2026. He’ll miss all of next season after a stellar 2024-25 run where he averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists and made All-NBA Third Team while carrying Indiana to the Finals. Without him — and without Myles Turner, who bolted to Milwaukee –the Pacers are likely out of the contender mix.
Staley on Knicks job: ‘I would have left’ South Carolina coach Dawn Staley confirmed on the Post Moves podcast that she interviewed for the Knicks’ head coaching vacancy this offseason — and would’ve taken the job if it had been offered. Instead, New York hired Mike Brown.
According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, Staley wasn’t a finalist despite leaving a strong impression. She would’ve joined a short list of women on NBA benches, a group that includes Indiana’s Jenny Boucek, Atlanta’s Brittni Donaldson and the Lakers’ Lindsey Harding.
Harding, notably, broke ground in 2024 as the first woman to win G League Coach of the Year while leading Stockton.
