How Do The Knicks Keep Landry Shamet AND Malcolm Brogdon?

As Leon Rose builds his championship squad, recent moves signal that one more trade may be needed to keep the Knicks’ two non-guaranteed veteran pickups.

Leon Rose cooked. The Knicks’ president has the stove on high, making moves balancing immediate depth with long-term flexibility. The highlight, of course, was securing Mikal Bridges on a team-friendly extension. That deal alone would have been enough to set the tone, locking in a two-way star who not only complements Jalen Brunson on the court but also shares a bond with him off it. Continuity and chemistry matter, and Rose doubled down on both.

But he did not stop there. Snagging Jordan Clarkson off waivers at the veteran minimum was daylight robbery. For pennies on the dollar, the Knicks added a proven scorer and secondary playmaker who can swing playoff games. Then came Gershon Yabusele, another big-bodied wing signed to a bargain deal. He brings size, toughness, and versatility to a roster that will need all three when the postseason grind begins. That signing came through the taxpayer mid-level exception, with Yabusele even taking $185,000 less in Year 1 so the Knicks could stay just below the $207.8 million second apron hard cap. That level of precision is the definition of front office cooking.

And just when it seemed like the summer was wrapped up, Rose added another layer of intrigue. Non-guaranteed deals for Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon give the Knicks two veterans with playoff résumés and skill sets this team sorely lacked last season: movement shooting and steady playmaking from a bigger guard. They even brought in Garrison Mathews on a minimum, further complicating the numbers game. The offseason expectation was that the Knicks could only afford two veteran minimum players under the apron. Still, Rose has now pushed the envelope with three names for essentially one chair.

Of course, there is one wrinkle left to iron out. The Knicks currently have only one open roster spot, making it impossible to keep both Shamet and Brogdon under the hard cap. If it were up to me, I would salary dump Tyler Kolek in a heartbeat to make room. Hell, I would damn near prefer it. But the reality is, Kolek does not make enough money ($2.1 million) to open up the space needed to sign both guards while staying under the second apron. That is where the math gets cruel.

As it stands now, if the Knicks stand pat, they will be left with less than $150,000 in breathing room under the second apron. That’s a razor-thin margin that gives them virtually no in-season flexibility. In fact, the soonest they could sign a 15th player without a trade would be April 2, just 10 days before the regular season ends. They could repeat last year’s trick of operating below the 14-player minimum for 14 of their allowed 28 days, but even then, it only buys time. Nor does it solve the problem. That is why Stefan Bondy has already reported that the league expects the Knicks to make a cost-cutting move to fit two of Shamet, Brogdon, and Mathews.

Ian Begley recently noted that the two “cleanest” players to move, financially and roster-wise, are Deuce McBride and Pacome Dadiet. And that is where this discussion gets uncomfortable. Those are two of the Knicks’ favorite kids, beloved by fans for different reasons. McBride for his bulldog defense, Dadiet for his upside as a raw but tantalizing wing. Trading either to solve a roster puzzle would not be fun, but it may be necessary if Rose really wants to keep both Shamet and Brogdon in the fold.

Scenario 1: Trade Pacome Dadiet for a Protected First

Normally, dumping a cost-controlled rookie this early would be reckless. Pacome Dadiet is just 19, raw, and filled with the kind of upside that can come back to haunt you if you are too impatient. However, context matters, and the Knicks have wing depth, albeit not a ton of youth. Between OG Anunoby, Bridges, Yabusele, and another developmental project in Mohamed Diawara, New York isn’t lacking. But the position you can never have too many, are wings.

What they do need is a steady backup playmaker, preferably a bigger guard with playoff experience. That is exactly what Brogdon offers. In this case, sacrificing Dadiet is logical. To be clear, I don’t want this to happen. But I understand why it should. And if it does, I’ll find clear ways to buy into it. I’m against it in general because of the young kids; Dadiet and Diawara have the highest ceiling. But the Knicks are in win-now mode, and the rotation is too tight to guarantee minutes for another teenager. The deciding vote here is yes, because the role Brogdon fills is far more pressing for a team trying to win in May and June.

Scenario 2: Trade Deuce McBride for a First

McBride is the type of glue guy you win playoff series with. His point-of-attack defense is above-average, and his toughness embodies what this Knicks roster is all about.

McBride has steadily endeared himself to the fanbase with a growing offensive repertoire while developing into one of the Knicks’ most reliable spot-up and movement shooters. His biggest struggle remains finishing at the rim, but that is a skill that can be developed. As his handle, rim finishing, and playmaking for others improve, McBride can grow into the very skill set Brogdon would bring right now.

That is why my verdict is simple: Hell no. Every team that has won a championship in the modern NBA has had at least two players who were drafted and developed by the franchise. For the Knicks, those two are Mitchell Robinson and Deuce. McBride is expected to be the starting shooting guard on opening night, and he has already shown enough growth to justify that trust. With more time, he can grow into the role of backup playmaker and secondary guard creator, the exact role Brogdon would fill. If he stagnates, trade him later, when his value is clearer. But moving on now, for a veteran near the end of his prime, would be shortsighted, especially with Mcbride as the likely starting shooting guard next season.

Scenario 3: Trade Mitchell Robinson and Tyler Kolek for Walker Kessler

The most dramatic option is trading Mitchell Robinson and rookie guard Tyler Kolek to Utah for Walker Kessler. On paper, it makes a ton of sense. Robinson’s contract has weighed on flexibility, and his injury history is a running subplot. Kessler, meanwhile, is younger, and while an impending free agent, has shown flashes of being an elite rim protector in his own right. The deal also creates around $10 million in cap space and clears a roster spot for Shamet and Brogdon to be guaranteed contracts. From a financial and long-term perspective, it is precisely the kind of move Leon Rose would consider.

But the cons: Kessler’s individual defense is weak, and he’s yet to prove he can anchor a playoff defense against high-level offenses. Robinson, on the other hand, has already done it: twice. In fact, Robinson and Jalen Brunson are the only two Knicks over the last four postseasons who have directly won New York playoff series as the most critical players on the floor. Mitch did it first in 2023, dogwalking Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the first-round series against Cleveland. He did it again the following postseason, outworking MVP Joel Embiid and his full bag of dirty tricks, tilting the series in New York’s favor with guts and glory.

That is why the deciding vote here is HELL NO. Kessler may one day reach IHart-esque two-way ability. But right now, Robinson is battle-tested in playoff wars and knows how to win them. To move him, plus Kolek, for a younger player who has yet to prove himself at that level would be a gamble too far. This may be the type of pragmatic financial move Rose has shown a willingness to make, but basketball-wise, it could leave the Knicks weaker on the road to their chip. #NeverTradeMitch

The Verdict

So where does that leave us? In truth, Leon Rose does not have to force Shamet and Brogdon to both be on the roster. The beauty of the non-guaranteed contracts is that he can evaluate and let training camp play out. But if Rose does want to press the button now, the Dadiet trade is the cleanest, smartest path forward. Mainly because the Knicks roster desperately needs what Brogdon brings to the table. Neither Clarkson nor McBride are ready to be the backup point guard and playmaker for others.

Rose's genius has not just been in the names he has signed. He’s hedged bets to pivot in multiple directions without ever putting himself in a bind. The Knicks are deeper than they were three months ago. Last year, Rose was a contender to win the award. This season, with sights set solely on a chip, Rose has the inside track for Executive of the Year.