The New York Knicks have added free agent forward Tosan Evbuomwan to their training camp roster, Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto reported Monday. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and nearly a steal per game last season for the Brooklyn Nets, providing a versatile presence on both ends of the floor.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported that Evbuomwan will be a prime candidate for one of the Knicks’ two open two-way roster spots. Currently, the team has only one player, Kevin McCullar Jr., on a two-way contract. Evbuomwan’s deal is a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, similar to those given to veteran guards Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet.
Evbuomwan, who went undrafted in 2023, starred at Princeton University, earning First Team All-Ivy League honors in 2023 before declaring for the NBA Draft.
“He’s worked so hard to get to this point and it’s great to see all that work being recognized,” Princeton coach Mitch Henderson told NJ Advance Media. “Tosan elevates others around him to be their best. He’s a great fit for the Knicks.”
Knicks Explore Multiple Options for Training Camp
The Knicks will also be bringing in Dennis Smith Jr., who spent last season with Real Madrid, according to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. NBA insider Jake Fischer also reported the Knicks had also considered signing Thomas Bryant, who scored 11 points off the bench against New York in the Pacers’ Game 6 win.
The Knicks currently carry only 12 players on standard contracts. The plan is for rookie Mohamed Diawara to take the 14th roster spot on a rookie minimum deal, according to Begley. The team remains hard-capped at the league’s second apron after using its taxpayer midlevel exception this summer to sign French forward Guerschon Yabusele, leaving roughly $3.7 million under the threshold.
“The rookie needs to have been drafted by the Knicks. So the plan heading into camp is for New York to sign Mohamed Diawara to that rookie deal,” Begley wrote.
The Knicks can carry up to 21 players during training camp, which begins next week, ahead of preseason games against the Philadelphia 76ers in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 2 and 4.
Backcourt Logjam Fuels Trade Interest in Tyler Kolek
Getty New York Knicks second-year guard Tyler Kolek draws trade interest.
The influx of veteran guards competing for the Knicks’ final roster spot has fueled trade interest in second-year point guard Tyler Kolek, ClutchPoints‘ Kris Pursiainen reported Friday. With the recent signings of Brogdon and Shamet, Kolek could find himself buried on the depth chart. At least one NBA team has expressed interest in acquiring the 20-year-old guard, according to Pursiainen.
“The expectation of several league sources is that the organization will trade a player for draft capital to clear a roster spot,” Pursiainen wrote. “Jalen Brunson, Miles ‘Deuce’ McBride, and new additions in Jordan Clarkson and Brogdon give the team depth at guard. Moving Kolek could afford the 24-year-old opportunity that he would not get in New York.”
Kolek, the 34th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, averaged 11.7 points on 32.3% shooting from the field in five NBA Summer League games, including 17.1% from three-point range, with 5.0 assists against 4.0 turnovers. Moving his $2.2 million salary for draft compensation would open enough cap room and a roster spot for the Knicks to sign two of the veterans attending training camp.
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