{"id":159296,"date":"2025-09-17T07:13:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T11:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=159296"},"modified":"2025-09-17T07:13:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T11:13:10","slug":"knicks-roster-now-complete-ahead-of-2025-26-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/17\/knicks-roster-now-complete-ahead-of-2025-26-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Knicks Roster Now Complete Ahead Of 2025-26 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Though he originally agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract, the New York Knicks will sign forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/evbuoto01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tosan Evbuomwan<\/a> to a two-way contract, per SNY reporter Ian Begley. The news came shortly after <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/16\/knicks-have-only-1-roster-spot-remaining-after-series-of-moves\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">they officially signed<\/a> center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jemistr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trey Jemison<\/a> and wing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mcculke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin McCullar Jr.<\/a> to two-way deals. Now, New York has filled all three of their two-way slots.<\/p>\n<p>To speak briefly about Evbuomwan, he\u2019s the only Princeton product on an NBA roster. In fact, just 11 players who played for the Tigers have made it to the NBA. When considering that he <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/30\/nets-hidden-gem-tosan-evbuomwan-two-way-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">picked up basketball later than most<\/a> NBA players, his ability to overcome the odds is truly impressive. Playing for a team like the Knicks and in a state like New York, it might now even prove necessary.<\/p>\n<h2>Knicks Roster Now Complete Ahead Of 2025-26 Season?<\/h2>\n<p>The most immediate question the Knicks have is how to proceed with their standard contracts.<\/p>\n<p>After deciding to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SbondyNBA\/status\/1939426384805318717\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">decline their 2025-26 team option<\/a> on 14-year veteran <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tuckepj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PJ Tucker<\/a>\u2019s contract (h\/t New York Post reporter Stefan Bondy), they had five open spots remaining. Their first <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/01\/knicks-set-to-land-jordan-clarkson-to-solve-bench-woes\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">offseason signing<\/a> was former Sixth Man of the Year, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/clarkjo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jordan Clarkson<\/a>. The second <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/01\/new-york-knicks-surprisingly-land-french-big-man\/\" target=\"_self\">open spot went to<\/a> prodigal son <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/y\/yabusgu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Guerschon Yabusele<\/a>, who was <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/11\/guerschon-yabusele-ready-for-nba-return-after-olympics-breakout\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">invited back to the league<\/a> after starring for France\u2019s Paris Olympics team.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_126241\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-126241\" style=\"width: 1745px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-126241\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_13913570_168404789_lowres.jpg\" alt=\"NBA veteran PJ Tucker\" width=\"1745\" height=\"1359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_13913570_168404789_lowres.jpg 1745w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_13913570_168404789_lowres-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_13913570_168404789_lowres-1024x797.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_13913570_168404789_lowres-768x598.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_13913570_168404789_lowres-1536x1196.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1745px) 100vw, 1745px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-126241\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jan 15, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker (17) arrives at Toyota Center before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As a consequence of those moves pressing them <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thirdapron.com\/p\/the-knicks-final-roster-spots-and\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">close to the second apron<\/a>, New York could only add one veteran and one rookie on a minimum contract, per Third Apron salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan. Since then, the Knicks have signed decorated leader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brogdma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Malcolm Brogdon<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/12\/knicks-sign-malcolm-brogdon-for-depth\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">a one-year deal<\/a>. They also <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/13\/update-knicks-plans-rookie-draft-pick-mohamed-diawara\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">plan to sign<\/a> 2025 No. 51 pick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/diawamo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mohamed Diawara<\/a> to a standard rookie contract.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, their roster is\u2014for all intents and purposes \u2014presumably complete. However, they would technically have one standard roster spot remaining, and three veterans that will <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/14\/knicks-rumors-major-training-camp-competition-3-trade-candidates-cam-payne-trey-jemison-and-thomas-bryant\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">battle for it<\/a> in training camp: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/shamela01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Landry Shamet<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mathega01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Garrison Mathews<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lenal01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex Len<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/ryanma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matt Ryan<\/a>. From the outside looking in, mutual familiarity gives Shamet a leg up over the competition.<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word On The Knick Offseason<\/h3>\n<p>Knicks fans have probably gone cross-eyed trying to follow their favorite team\u2019s flurry of moves.<\/p>\n<p>The aforementioned players, sans Tucker, have been or are planning to be signed. Now waived, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/patedi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dink Pate<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/warrebr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bryson Warren<\/a> will have to try to break into the NBA from the G League. Though he\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/16\/ben-simmons-has-1-word-response-to-retirement-rumors\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">apparently not retiring<\/a>, star free agent target <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/simmobe01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ben Simmons<\/a> isn\u2019t interested <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/08\/should-knicks-shed-salary-sign-star-free-agent-ben-simmons\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">in playing for the minimum<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On top of all of that, the Knicks are <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/09\/knicks-firing-tom-thibodeau-right-move\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">no longer being led by<\/a> controversial but effective head coach Tom Thibodeau. Instead, they\u2019ll be <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/02\/knicks-hire-mike-brown-where-are-they-in-the-east-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">following Mike Brown<\/a> and his similar though distinct philosophy. Hopefully, for New York at least, this leads to them leaning on their non-starters more. It\u2019s not ideal to have the best players resting but <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/03\/21\/tom-thibodeau-knicks-rest\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">they do need to rest<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Though he originally agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract, the New York Knicks will sign forward Tosan Evbuomwan to a two-way contract, per SNY reporter Ian Begley. The news came shortly after they officially signed center Trey Jemison and wing Kevin McCullar Jr. to two-way deals. Now, New York has filled all three of their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":159305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1608,62,3],"tags":[266,797,321,2349,3717,4975,297,49503,2282,49929],"class_list":["post-159296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-knicks","category-basketball","category-nba","category-news","tag-ben-simmons","tag-guerschon-yabusele","tag-jordan-clarkson","tag-landry-shamet","tag-mike-brown","tag-nba-contracts","tag-nba-free-agency","tag-nba-training-camp","tag-pj-tucker","tag-tosan-evbuomwan"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=159296"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":159307,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159296\/revisions\/159307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/159305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=159296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=159296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=159296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}