Thomas Bryant, Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
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Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against Thomas Bryant of the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The New York Knicks considered signing veteran center Thomas Bryant before pivoting to backcourt and wing depth, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
“League sources say that the Knicks weighed bringing in Thomas Bryant after team officials visited with the veteran big man,” Fischer wrote Friday in The Stein Line newsletter. “New York ultimately decided to prioritize wing and backcourt depth; Bryant is fresh off contributing to Indiana’s unexpected run to the NBA Finals.”
The 6-foot-10 Bryant became the odd man out with the Pacers after Indiana retooled its frontcourt by acquiring Jay Huff, re-signing former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman, exercising its option on Tony Bradley and extending a qualifying offer to Isaiah Jackson.
Bryant, a Rochester native, played a key role in helping Indiana eliminate New York in the Eastern Conference finals. He scored 11 points in 13 minutes off the bench in the Pacers’ Game 6 clincher.
Veteran Guards Compete for Final Roster Spot
Instead of signing Bryant, New York added three veteran guards on non-guaranteed contracts — former Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews (training camp deal).
If no trade materializes, the Knicks will need to choose between the veterans to finalize their 15-man roster.
Fischer added that the Knicks are also exploring ways to create additional cap flexibility and an extra roster slot. “League sources say that the Knicks have begun to weigh various trade scenarios… one of the few possibilities that could be easily executed is parting with 2024 first-round pick Pacôme Dadiet,” he wrote.
Two-Way Slot Options
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GettyFormer Los Angeles Lakers center Trey Jemison goes for a block.
The Knicks also hold two open two-way contracts, and SNY’s Ian Begley reported that former Los Angeles Lakers center Trey Jemison III is under consideration.
Jemison, 24, spent last season on a two-way deal with the Lakers and their G League affiliate, South Bay. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 22 NBA appearances, while posting 10.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in the G League.
The 6-foot-11 big man could step into the role vacated by 7-foot-2 Moses Brown, who was dealt to the Grand Rapids Gold in exchange for Bryson Warren and a 2026 first-round pick. Jemison would join a frontcourt that already includes Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, Ariel Hukporti and Guerschon Yabusele.
Sorkin Draws NBA Interest
Another name on New York’s radar is Israeli forward-center Roman Sorkin. The 29-year-old drew attention with his standout performance at EuroBasket 2025, averaging 16.5 points and 6.0 rebounds for Israel, including a 31-point game against Iceland.
Begley reported that the Knicks, Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers are among the teams interested in bringing Sorkin over from Maccabi Tel Aviv. Last season, Sorkin averaged 12.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in Euroleague play and earned Israeli league MVP and Finals MVP honors in 2024.
Financial Constraints Still Loom
The Knicks’ front office faces difficult choices as it juggles roster flexibility and salary constraints. After using their taxpayer midlevel exception to sign French forward Guerschon Yabusele, New York remains just $3.7 million under the NBA’s second tax apron.
As ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks noted, Brogdon and Shamet’s non-guaranteed contracts will not hit the cap until opening night, giving the Knicks a limited window to explore trade options and finalize their roster.