The New York Knicks trimmed their training camp roster on October 15, 2026, waiving Tony Bradley, Ochai Agbaji, and Drew Eubanks. The moves leave James Wiseman and Bruce Brown as the final contenders for the team’s remaining roster spot ahead of the regular season opener.
Drew Eubanks Injury Forces Roster Decisions
The frontcourt battle in New York took a sharp turn when Drew Eubanks sustained a torn pectoral muscle that will sideline the veteran center for an extended period. The injury ended Eubanks’ bid to secure a reserve role after he signed a non-guaranteed training camp contract in September.
The departure of Eubanks, alongside the releases of Tony Bradley and Ochai Agbaji, leaves head coach Mike Brown with a severely thinned-out center rotation behind starter Karl-Anthony Towns and newly added veteran Andre Drummond. Following the departures of Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, the organization faced immediate pressure to solidify its frontcourt depth.
.@nyknicks Waive Ochai Agbaji, Tony Bradley, and Drew Eubanks
Prior to arriving in New York for his stint with the Sacramento Kings, the 29-year-old center had accumulated eight years of prior NBA experience. Across his 42 appearances for Sacramento—which included 11 starts—he posted averages of 5.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 13.1 minutes per contest. Shams Charania of ESPN reported the injury news on October 15, confirming the team’s intent to waive the 29-year-old veteran.
The Knicks entered camp with one open spot after claiming their first championship in over 50 years and deciding to run things back. James Dolan has directed the Knicks to stay out of the second apron, creating a rigid financial boundary for Leon Rose’s front office as they evaluate candidates on non-guaranteed training camp pacts.
James Wiseman and Bruce Brown Battle for the Final Spot
With the roster cuts complete, James Wiseman remains the primary center from the initial three-man camp competition. Wiseman strengthened his case during an exhibition game in Toronto, where he recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds on 7-of-8 shooting across 24 minutes.
At the same time, veteran wing Bruce Brown has used his championship experience and defensive versatility to remain in contention for the 14th spot. Both players acknowledged that nothing had been finalized ahead of their preseason finale against the Toronto Raptors. Brown was a member of both the 2023 championship Denver Nuggets team and the 2020-22 Brooklyn Nets teams built around Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, while Wiseman went No. 2 overall to the Golden State Warriors in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Bruce Brown said he had not signed anything yet and was still fighting for a spot.
James Wiseman said he was just staying humble and trying to work.
Wiseman spoke about his focus on the floor regarding his developmental path and integration with the staff. James Wiseman said he was focused on running the floor, talking on defense, and being a rim protector.
Bruce Brown also noted his readiness to accept whatever role the coaching staff assigns. I think just come and be myself, prove that I’ve been here before,
said Bruce Brown. I’ve done it before, my work ethic. And if it’s a role to be on the bench and be your cheerleader, I’m happy to do that, right? But whatever they throw at me, I’m down to do.
Salary Cap Constraints and the Second Apron
The hesitation to lock in both players stems directly from team owner James Dolan’s strict directive to keep payroll beneath the $222 million second apron. At present, New York maintains 13 players bound by guaranteed deals; although room formally exists for a pair of additions, utilizing both open roster slots would elevate their expenditures past the second tax threshold.
Because the front office prefers to prioritize frontcourt insurance behind Towns and Drummond, Wiseman holds a distinct roster advantage over Brown. To keep both athletes on the roster, management would need to orchestrate a trade involving an existing guaranteed pact—such as dealing Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek ($2.3 million), or Miles McBride ($4 million)—though McBride’s compact salary complicates negotiations since league rules prohibit New York from receiving a higher salary sum than the one they outbound.
Training Camp Evaluations and Preseason Context
Earlier in the exhibition schedule, head coach Mike Brown discussed the unique nature of evaluating players on non-guaranteed deals. If one of those guys makes our team, at least right now, they may not even play seven minutes — you know, seven straight minutes,
he said, noting that the winner must play hard and execute on both ends of the floor.
And then at the end of the day, we just have to make a decision,
Brown added on Monday regarding the final roster choices. The Knicks fell to 0-3 in the preseason with a 122-104 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, though the exhibition campaign has served primarily as an evaluation period for the coaching staff to manage health and roster depth.