The New York Knicks currently have five players competing for their final two roster spots: Ochai Agbaji, Bruce Brown, Drew Eubanks, John Konchar, and James Wiseman. The three wings from that group are NBA-caliber players who just so happen to check the boxes that the Los Angeles Lakers need to prioritize along the wings.
That's exactly why the Lakers need to keep a close eye on the Knicks' training camp battle and prepare to make an offer to whoever is available between Agbaji, Brown, and Konchar.
Before exploring the trio's potential fit, the obvious must be acknowledged: Los Angeles has 16 players under contract. As such, it must part with at least one player just to meet the 15-player maximum for an NBA season—and would need to part with two in order to sign one of Agbaji, Brown, or Konchar.
With this in mind, two of Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, and Dalton Knecht would likely need to be cut—or perhaps a veteran on a one-year deal such as Matisse Thybulle or Ziaire Williams.
Ideally, the Knicks wouldn't part with Thybulle or Williams, as they're key defensive contributors who should provide depth at the 3 and 4 spots. That puts Hardy, James, and Knecht under the spotlight—and though it would hurt, parting with one or two of them appears to be a necessary evil already.
There is still the possibility that the Lakers find a way to offload Jarred Vanderbilt's contract and include another player in the trade, but until then, cutting an up-and-comer is the most likely path forward if they sign one of the players who doesn't join the Knicks.
Ochai Agbaji: Flashes of elite 3-and-D potential
Agbaji is perhaps the most intriguing player on this list due to his 3-and-D potential. At 25 years of age, he's displayed the ability to fill that exact role. Unfortunately, he shot just 26.6 percent from beyond the arc in 2025-26.
Agbaji shot 39.9 percent from distance in 2024-25, however, and it's worth noting that he bumped his efficiency up to 34.9 percent in 20 games after a mid-season trade in 2025-26.
The reason Agbaji's shooting woes are worth potentially overlooking is that his defense has been consistently great regardless of how he's shot. In 2024-25, he ranked in the 94th percentile in perimeter isolation defense and the 99th percentile in off-ball chaser defense, per Basketball Index.
Though his jumper fell apart in 2024-25, Agbaji still ranked in the 84th percentile in perimeter isolation defense and the 61st percentile in off-ball chaser defense. For a Lakers side that needs wing defenders with ideal size and athleticism, Agbaji is simply too talented to outright overlook.
Standing at 6'5" and 215 pounds with a 6'10" wingspan, Agbaji is a low-risk, high-reward player worth investing in.
Bruce Brown: An NBA champion who does a bit of everything
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Lakers expressed interest in signing Brown earlier this summer—and have had their eye on him for "several years." It's not hard to understand why, as Brown is an NBA champion who contributes in virtually every phase of the game.
A competitive defender who played all 82 games in 2025-26 after a pair of injury-plagued seasons derailed his momentum, Brown could give the Lakers' second unit a new layer of quality.
Brown finished the 2025-26 regular season with averages that translated to 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 offensive rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 three-point field goal made on .475/.385/.762 shooting. He did so while ranking in the 62nd percentile in perimeter isolation defense.
Beyond the numbers, Brown defends multiple positions, corner crashes as well as just about any wing, and can create offense for himself and others. That could give the Lakers a great deal of balance, as the second unit is flush with players with fairly narrowly defined strengths.
Brown is admittedly a top candidate to sign with the Knicks, but if he hits the open market once again, the Lakers should at least kick the tires.
John Konchar: The epitome of a glue guy
There's a realistic possibility that Konchar will be the player whom the Knicks ultimately prioritize. Though he's something of a non-scorer whose jump shot has fallen apart in recent years, he's a defensive playmaker and the proverbial glue guy who does the dirty work for his teams.
For a Lakers side that has plenty of skill, adding a gritty defender who's willing to get his hands dirty could be a gamble that pushes the second unit to ranking among the better backup groups in the NBA.
Konchar is an absolute menace as an off-ball defender. He'll pry the ball right out of an opponent's hands, and even when he can't, he's turned swipe steals into something of an art form. That's why he averaged 2.7 steals—as well as 1.2 blocks—per 36 minutes in 2025-26.
Konchar is also an elite offensive rebounder for a wing, pulling down 2.4 per 36 in 2025-26. For what it's worth: JJ Redick has a known affinity for corner-crashing wings. He'd also likely learn to love the do-it-all nature of Konchar, who also averaged 3.8 assists per 36 this past season.
Parting with a young player would be a tough sell considering the Lakers need to develop talent. All three of the players in the Knicks' training camp battle, however, deserve their attention.
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