NBA contract update: Defending champion Knicks add 6-foot-5 free agent to help Jalen Brunson and co.

John Konchar has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, giving the defending champions a fresh body on the wing just as free agency winds down. The move fills a real need for a team built to defend its crown around Jalen Brunson.Konchar arrives after a chaotic stretch that saw him moved twice in a matter of weeks. He is one of the more seasoned role players still floating around the market, and New York had to beat out a handful of suitors to get a deal done.CategoryDetailsPlayerJohn KoncharNew TeamNew York KnicksContract StatusOne-year dealSalary Cap HitUnknownJohn Konchar joins New York KnicksJohn Konchar entered unrestricted free agency this offseason after a strange run through the trade market. Utah shipped him and Cody Williams to Minnesota for Josh Green and cash, only for the Timberwolves to waive him almost immediately. The Knicks scooped him up from there.Last season, split between Memphis and Utah, Konchar played 56 games and put up 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in just under 20 minutes a night. He has spent most of his career with the Grizzlies since entering the league undrafted back in 2019.Knicks beat out East rivals for KoncharGetting this deal done was not simple. The Knicks had company from the Heat, the Magic and the Raptors, all Eastern Conference teams that could have used a player like this. Konchar picked New York anyway, choosing a shot at a repeat title over a bigger role elsewhere.For a team chasing back-to-back championships, adding a defensive-minded wing on a short, cheap contract is low risk. The 6-foot-5 forward will not headline anything, but that has never really been his job.Konchar bolsters Knicks depth alongside DrummondKonchar now slots in next to Andre Drummond as one of New York's more notable offseason pickups, even if neither move grabbed headlines. The Knicks still have two open roster spots, and word is there will be a real training camp battle for one of them, with the 15th spot possibly left open entirely.He brings plenty of mileage to the locker room too, with more than 360 NBA games under his belt. Over his career, he has bounced between a steady bench role in Memphis and a brief, unspectacular stint in Utah, where he averaged 5.9 points, 3.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 26 games last season.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.