The New York Knicks have reportedly made another move before training camp, inking a deal with NBA veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon.
Brogdon, who was named 2017 NBA Rookie of the Year and 2023 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, played last season for the Washington Wizards. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the experienced guard agreed to a one-year deal with the Knicks.
But, per SNY’s Ian Begley, this is actually a non-guaranteed deal for Brogdon. That means that New York could cut Brogdon before the season begins, which is notable for those already projecting his role on the team or in the depth chart.
New York also signed Landry Shamet, who played for the Knicks last season, to a non-guaranteed veteran minimum deal on Thursday.
Garrison Mathews, an underrated player who most recently suited up for the Atlanta Hawks, also agreed to the same type of contract.
The Knicks effectively “have set up a wing battle for a roster spot” with these moves, per New York Post reporter Stefan Bondy.
That is because according to salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan, the Knicks only have enough cap space before hitting the second apron to sign one of these players on a veteran minimum to the 13th spot on their roster.
They are expected to save the 14th spot for an unsigned rookie, presumably Mohamed Diawara, under the second-round pick exception.
If they want to keep two of the veterans, meanwhile, New York’s front office would likely have to make a trade or a different creative cap maneuver. Here is more from Jake Fischer (via The Stein Line):
“They opted to sign both Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon to one-year deals this week despite knowing that — barring a trade to create some roster flexibility away from the second luxury tax apron — they will only have room to keep one of them when the regular season starts. League sources say that the Knicks, though, have begun to weigh various trade scenarios to provide that needed distance from the second tax apron in the event they wish to keep both Shamet and Brogdon; one of the few possibilities that could be easily executed is parting with 2024 first-round pick Pacome Dadiet.”
All of these players have a chance to show what they have during training camp, but Shamet (28) and Mathews (28) are both younger than Brogdon (32) and may have more in the tank. Shamet also has more familiarity with the team after playing in New York last season.
Brogdon is a recognizable name for NBA fans but may never actually suit up for the Knicks depending on the outlook of the next few weeks.
It doesn’t look good for the Clippers
If you look at the timeline of events following the alleged salary cap circumvention, the Clippers look more and more guilty:
The scandal involving the Los Angeles Clippers and possible salary cap circumvention for Kawhi Leonard is only getting more and more intense.
A new episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out released on Thursday and included some curious details about Aspiration, a now bankrupt sustainability company.
The NBA has hired a law firm to investigate the salary cap circumvention allegations, though the the Clippers have repeatedly denied the claims. After the investigation, fans will learn what (if any) punishment the organization will receive for any violations committed.
Keep all of that in mind as you review this timeline of events that could further contextualize whether or not the NBA can prove that the Clippers violated the CBA, which NBA commissioner Adam Silver considers a “cardinal sin” in the league.
Shootaround
— The NBA’s new rules lets stat-obsessed cowards off the hook
— Hornets may have trolled Terry Rozier for gambling allegations
— The ‘Villanova Knicks’ continued with 1 surprising coaching hire
— Shaquille O’Neal Q&A: ‘I try to be tough on Joel Embiid, but apparently he can’t take it’