New York Knicks Sign Five Players to Non-Guaranteed Contracts

The New York Knicks have signed five players to non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contracts as they finalize their roster for the upcoming NBA season. The signings include Bruce Brown, Ochai Agbaji, John Konchar, D.J. Jeffries, and James Wiseman. These players will join the team's training camp with the opportunity to earn a spot on the final roster, with the Knicks not committed to keeping them for the regular season at this stage. Only one roster spot remains available.

Bruce Brown, 30, is a notable addition, having been a key player on the Denver Nuggets' 2023 championship team. Last season, he played in all 82 regular-season games for the Nuggets, averaging 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Knicks management has reportedly admired Brown for a long time, valuing his ability to defend multiple positions and serve as a secondary ball-handler.

James Wiseman, the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, represents a more intriguing gamble. His career has been hampered by injuries, including missing the entire 2021-22 season with a knee injury and tearing his Achilles tendon early in the 2024-25 season. In 152 career games with the Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, and Indiana Pacers, he averaged 9 points and 5.5 rebounds, but appeared in only four games last season. During the summer, Wiseman was reportedly considered by both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Exhibit 9 contracts are one-year, minimum-wage deals for players trying out at training camp. If released before the season starts, the team is not obligated to pay their season salary. The contract also protects the team if a player is injured during camp, allowing them to be waived with a $15,000 buyout instead of paying their full salary until recovery. These contracts do not count against the salary cap until the regular season begins.