New York Knicks signing John Konchar to one-year deal

Free agent forward John Konchar has signed a one-year contract with the New York Knicks, according to his agent. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 210 pounds, Konchar is considerably larger than the guards typically played by head coach Mike Brown. He excels at guarding various positions and is known for his rebounding abilities, more commonly associated with forwards than backcourt players.

This move brings the defending champions to a roster of 14 players under standard contracts, leaving around $3.2 million in salary cap space prior to the start of training camp on October 1st. Konchar, now in his eighth NBA season, will likely take over the role previously occupied by Mitchell Robinson, who left for a three-year, $47 million deal with the Boston Celtics this offseason.

Last season, Konchar played for both the Memphis Grizzlies and the Utah Jazz, accumulating a total of 56 games. On average, he contributed 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per contest. His performance improved significantly in Utah, where he shot a career-high 44.5% and averaged 5.9 points per game. Rumors suggest that the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors also showed interest in Konchar.

The New York Knicks secured his services without exceeding the cost of a roster spot, acquiring a versatile player capable of contributing in multiple areas.

Konchar went undrafted out of Purdue-Fort Wayne in 2019, embarking on a challenging journey to reach Madison Square Garden. He was traded from Memphis to Utah in February, then to Minnesota in August, where he was waived shortly after. Minnesota had utilized the trade to clear space for Jonathan Kuminga, fitting him under the second apron.