The New York Knicks have signed five veterans, including former No. 2 pick James Wiseman and 2023 champion Bruce Brown, to Exhibit 9 contracts for training camp. The team announced the signings on Wednesday, setting up a competition for one or two spots on the opening-night roster. This comes as the Knicks prepare to defend their NBA championship, a title they secured with a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on June 14, 2026.
The Knicks brought in center James Wiseman, wings Bruce Brown and Ochai Agbaji, wing John Konchar, and center Drew Eubanks. All five players received Exhibit 9 contracts, which are non-guaranteed deals. If a player makes the opening-day roster, his contract converts to a standard one-year minimum. Players can also get a $15,000 payment if they are released due to injury.
James Wiseman is the youngest of the group at 25. He averaged 3.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in four games with the Indiana Pacers last season. The former second overall pick has played limited minutes since tearing his Achilles in November 2024.
Bruce Brown, now 30, played all 82 games for the Denver Nuggets last season. He put up 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. The Knicks were linked to Brown at the 2024 trade deadline when he was with Toronto.
The Knicks are the reigning NBA champions and are in strong form. Their last five games show a record of four wins and one loss (WWLWW). They are currently on a two-game winning run. Their championship series against the San Antonio Spurs was tightly contested. After winning Game 1 105-95 on June 4, they took a 2-0 lead with a 105-104 win on June 6. San Antonio won Game 3 115-111 on June 9, but the Knicks responded with a 107-106 victory on June 11. They clinched the title with a 94-90 win in Game 5 on June 14.
You can review the team's full schedule and recent results on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page.
With 13 players already on guaranteed contracts, the Knicks have most of their championship core intact. The main departure was center Mitchell Robinson, who signed with the Boston Celtics. New York replaced him with veteran rebounder Andre Drummond. The five camp signees are competing to be depth pieces who might only play spot minutes.
Head coach Mike Brown, entering his second season, showed a willingness to use his bench during last season's playoff run. So while earning playing time will be tough, it's possible for a player to work his way into a larger role. An Exhibit 9 contract gives the team flexibility. It can become fully guaranteed at any point between signing and the league-wide deadline on January 10.
Training camp will determine which, if any, of these five veterans earns a roster spot. Ochai Agbaji averaged 5.1 points in 62 games split between Toronto and Brooklyn last year. Drew Eubanks put up 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds for Sacramento. John Konchar averaged 4.4 points and 4.3 rebounds for Memphis and Utah.
The Knicks begin their title defense in October. They aim to become the first team to win back-to-back NBA championships since the Golden State Warriors did it in 2017 and 2018. The competition in camp will be fierce, but it provides experienced options for Coach Brown as he manages a long season.
