James L. Edwards III of The Athletic examines some of the training camp storylines to watch for the Knicks, including how Jalen Brunson’s surgically repaired wrist looks, who will win the battle for the 14th roster spot, and whether the team might still have a trade up its sleeve before opening night.

As Edwards writes, one interesting wrinkle to monitor is the status of 47th overall pick Tyler Nickel, who is one of the few 2026 draftees who has yet to sign a contract for the 2026/27 season. If a federal ruling granting him a fifth year of NCAA eligibility is upheld, Nickel could make more money on an NIL deal in college than on a two-way contract in the NBA, so Edwards wonders if the team will try to find room for him on the 15-man roster to give him a more lucrative standard contract.

Unless the Knicks have a change of heart about surpassing the second tax apron or don’t retain any of the five veteran camp invitees – Bruce Brown, John Konchar, Ochai Agbaji, Drew Eubanks, and James Wiseman – vying for a roster spot, signing Nickel to a standard contract would necessitate a trade. Edwards views Miles McBride and Pacome Dadiet as the prime trade candidates on New York’s roster, though he admits he’d be surprised if McBride goes anywhere before the season begins.

We have more from around the Atlantic:

• Which members of the Nets have the most at stake in 2026/27? Brian Lewis of The New York Post considers that question in a subscriber-only article, identifying Julius Randle, Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, and 2025’s non-Egor Demin first-rounders as the players facing the most pressure. Porter and Clowney are entering contract years, while Randle has the ability to opt out in 2027. Meanwhile, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf were “inconsistent at best” as rookies and will have to show more as sophomores to prove they should be part of Brooklyn’s long-term plans.
• Within the same story, Lewis suggests that longtime general manager Sean Marks will be “under the microscope” in 2026/27, given that the Nets don’t have control of their 2027 first-round pick and the roster still doesn’t look like a playoff contender. The development of young players like Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. will be key for a front office that has operated patiently while dealing with bad draft-lottery luck.
• One prominent player agent who spoke to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca questioned why the Raptors would give Kawhi Leonard a player option in his new two-year, $115MM extension, referring to it as a “great deal for Kawhi.” However, Grange thinks that option could be mutually beneficial, since it would allow Leonard to opt out in 2028 in order to sign a new multiyear contract with a lower starting salary, like James Harden did in Cleveland this offseason.