Knicks sign Tony Bradley as final roster spot battle takes another twist

The battle for the last Knicks roster spot has taken a twist.They waived John Konchar on Wednesday and signed Tony Bradley to a nonguaranteed Exhibit 9 deal as a training camp tryout.Bradley will join Drew Eubanks and James Wiseman as centers trying to win that battle.

Coach Mike Brown acknowledged that “we’re looking at that position heavily,” given that Andre Drummond is the only backup center on a guaranteed deal behind Karl-Anthony Towns.But Bruce Brown and Ochai Agbaji — both wings, not bigs — are part of that veteran battle as well.The Knicks could theoretically take one of those two and kick the need for a third-string center down the road.“Tony’s a veteran guy that’s still in his prime and has a good feel for the game,” Brown said of Bradley.

“Knows how to play the game the right way.”The Knicks also signed Jaden Akins to a two-way deal.He fills the last two-way slot, after previously signing Tyler Nickel and Kevin McCullar Jr.Akins was with the Knicks at Summer League.

Undrafted last year out of Michigan State, he spent last season with the Pistons G-League team.Brown joked about what position Josh Hart considers himself.Sign up for Inside the Knicks by Stefan Bondy, a weekly exclusive on Sports+.

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Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! “Josh was a power forward but when it came to the conditioning test, the power forwards and centers have an easier time [requirement],” Brown said.“Not much, but an easier time than guards.

So all year I was calling him a power forward and he was cool with it but I could tell he didn’t really like it.But as soon as he heard about the conditioning test, he said he was a power forward.”The Knicks championship helped rekindle familial relationships.“I have people coming to me and saying, ‘I haven’t talked to my family member in...