Knicks roster, flaws and all, mostly set as Las Vegas Summer League nears end

Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News on Jul 17, 2026

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Mitchell Robinson is gone. So are Ariel Hukporti and Jeremy Sochan. But for the most part, fresh off their 2026 NBA championship run, the New York Knicks are running it back.

The Knicks didn’t need to exceed the $222 million second apron to keep the spirit of last season’s title run alive. The starting five of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart remains intact — as does a large contingent from one the best benches in basketball last season: Landry Shamet returned on a four-year, $24 million deal, Mohamed Diawara re-signed for four years, $11.2 million, Jose Alvarado is staying home on a three-year deal worth just over $14 million, and Miles McBride is entering the final year of the three-year extension he signed before Immanuel Quickley could pack his bags and head to Toronto after the Anunoby deal.

That’s nine. Andre Drummond, who signed at the veteran’s minimum after two seasons in Philly, makes a 10-man rotation as Robinson’s replacement. Jordan Clarkson, too, returned at the vet’s minimum. That’s 11. Tyler Kolek did not participate in Las Vegas Summer League while Pacome Dadiet needed to make a statement. And then, there are the two unsigned second-round picks: Tyler Nickel, who shot 40% or better from behind the arc in every Summer League game so far — and Jack Kayil, the 20-year-old German combo guard who could be a draft-and-stash or a candidate for a two-way contract spending time in Westchester.

The Knicks might not be done, either.

The entire NBA remains in a holding pattern as LeBron James nears The Decision: Part 2 on what could be the final stage of his decorated, Hall of Fame career. Once James makes his decision, remaining free agents will follow suit. Many of those free agents are veteran players looking to play for a team competing for a title. The Knicks fit the bill for whichever players do not end up on a roster with the NBA’s all-time leading scorer — and they could have room for two minimum salary spots if they decide not to pick up the Year 3 team option on Dadiet’s rookie contract, which has Halloween guarantee date.

Dadiet’s Year 4 salary is an unpalatable $5.4 million for a player who hasn’t proven he’s a rotation piece over two years. McBride is also due a contract extension, otherwise, he will hit free agency, be in line for a massive pay raise, and mark another home-grown, developed second-round pick who leaves New York for nothing after Robinson left the Knicks for the Boston Celtics on a three-year, $46 million deal.

Which means soon, it could be wheeling-and-dealing time once again for a team with a clear logjam in the backcourt and a player in Dadiet who doesn’t fit on the court or on the payroll.

In team president Leon Rose, of course, and cap strategist Brock Aller, the Knicks will trust. Their moving and shaking — five first-round picks for Bridges; Quickley, R.J. Barrett and the first pick of the second round for Anunoby; Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first for Towns; ended a 53-year championship drought in New York City.

Rose and his staff are experts at reading the room: And it’s as clear as day with a looming extension for Towns on the horizon, the Knicks likely won’t be able to keep McBride unless the All-Star big man takes a substantial pay cut.

The Knicks also aren’t remotely deep enough at center, not to compensate for the foul trouble sure to plague their starting center (though it should be noted he was more disciplined with the fouls as the Knicks ran through the Eastern Conference en route to hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy on the Frost Bank Center hardwood floors).

Nickel could add valuable floor spacing in the event Shamet misses time (the Knicks’ sharpshooter missed an extended period of both his Knicks seasons with shoulder injuries). But spacing isn’t a need for these Knicks. Size on the interior is — and it’s something they’ll need to address, either in the coming days after LeBron’s pending announcement, via the trade market or the buyout market later in a season the Knicks hope will end as repeat champs.