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Knicks Fill Out Camp With Four New Names

Akins, Nickel, McCullar and Dante join a $230.2 million roster deep in apron territory.

$230.2MTeam payroll after camp moves
By the Knicks Nightly Desk · Monday, September 28

New York added four players to training camp on September 27, and two of them landed two-way contracts. The moves push the roster to 22 names with the preseason opener now just over a week away.

Knicks Nightly artwork
Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Camp Fills Out

The Knicks added four players on September 27: Jaden Akins, Tyler Nickel, Kevin McCullar Jr. and N'Faly Dante. Nickel and McCullar signed two-way deals, confirmed by the team's own release. Akins and Dante round out bodies as Mike Brown finalizes his group before the preseason opener.

Apron Math

Those additions push payroll to $230.2 million, well above the $221.7 million tax threshold that triggers the league's harshest spending restrictions. Towns leads the group at $57.1 million, with Anunoby at $42.5 million, Brunson at $37.7 million and Bridges at $33.5 million. Defending a title costs real money, and New York is paying it.

Preseason Arrives

The Knicks open preseason Oct. 5 at Philadelphia, then host Washington on Oct. 8 and Minnesota on Oct. 12 before finishing at Toronto on Oct. 13. The regular-season opener against the 76ers follows Oct. 20.

Diawara Day-To-Day

Mohamed Diawara is day-to-day with a finger and arm issue, with an estimated return of Oct. 1. It's the single injury note on the board heading into camp.

Spot Still Open

Camp settled four jobs, but Hoopsrumors flagged the 14th roster spot as a live question as recently as September 25, even after roster churn earlier in the month. With 22 names now listed, New York still has a final call to make before the opener.

Who did the Knicks sign to training camp?

New York added Jaden Akins, Tyler Nickel, Kevin McCullar Jr. and N'Faly Dante on September 27, with Nickel and McCullar landing two-way contracts.

When do the Knicks play their first preseason game?

New York opens the preseason on Oct. 5 at Philadelphia, with the regular-season opener against the 76ers set for Oct. 20.

By the Knicks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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