The Knicks have reportedly signed veteran point guard Malcolm Brogdon to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract — but did so without any remaining space beneath the second apron to guarantee his deal if he earns a regular-season roster spot.
Which means the pressure is on Tyler Kolek.
The second-year guard spent most of his rookie season outside the rotation, only seeing real minutes when Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Cam Payne were simultaneously sidelined due to injury. Now, Kolek’s future in New York may hinge on whether the Knicks choose to make room for Brogdon.
For Brogdon’s deal to become fully guaranteed — and for the Knicks to remain second-apron compliant — the front office would need to clear salary via trade.
That makes Kolek the most logical cap casualty. Unlike Pacome Dadiet or Ariel Hukporti — the Knicks’ other developmental players — Kolek shares a position with Brogdon. And while he was selected 34th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Marquette product never gained traction under Tom Thibodeau. His brief minutes were marred by defensive lapses and the limitations that come with his lack of positional size — even as his playmaking vision and streaky three-point shooting showed real promise.
Now his roster spot is very much in question.
Brogdon, despite an extensive injury history, is a proven, playoff-tested point guard — a luxury behind an All-Star in Brunson and two quality reserves in Jordan Clarkson and McBride. He’s only played 60-plus games in two seasons since winning Rookie of the Year in 2017, but even with that caveat, his career averages — 15.4 points, 4.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 39% from three — speak for themselves.
The Knicks don’t need Brogdon to play 82 games. They just need him to be ready when it counts.
If he earns a spot, he’ll likely be the fourth guard in a deep backcourt, offering poise, playmaking and veteran calm when Brunson needs a breather. In a vacuum, Brogdon is an ideal situational guard for a contending team — the kind of insurance that can swing a playoff game.
That brings us back to Kolek, who is set to make $2.2 million this upcoming season and has three years remaining on his rookie contract. If the Knicks want to lock in Brogdon’s deal and stay under the apron, they could look to move Kolek in exchange for a future second-round pick. Teams like Utah, Washington, Charlotte or Brooklyn — franchises in need of point guard depth or low-cost prospects — could be realistic landing spots.
Of course, non-guaranteed training camp deals don’t always turn into roster spots. Brogdon still has to prove he’s healthy. Last summer, the Knicks signed Landry Shamet to a similar deal, only for him to dislocate his shoulder in the preseason. The risk is real — but so is the upside.
The move also continues the Knicks’ offseason trend: building a deeper, more flexible roster for another playoff push. After falling short in the Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana, the front office fired Thibodeau and hired two-time Coach of the Year Mike Brown, re-signed Mikal Bridges, and added Clarkson, Yabusele and Shamet — now followed by Brogdon’s non-guaranteed pact.
Brogdon’s deal may be written in pencil, but the pressure his presence applies to Kolek is indelible. The Knicks are clear about their direction: every move is geared toward ending a 52-year championship drought.
They’ve already moved on from former picks like RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes plus key fixtures in Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle. If Kolek is the next domino to fall, it’ll be a small price to pay for a team aiming to take the final step toward an NBA title.
