Knicks Training Camp: Everything you need to know

The New York Knicks are back!

After 265 days, the New York Knicks will finally set foot on a basketball court in preparation for the 2020-21 NBA season. While the team was allowed to host informal workouts in September, that was more of a courtesy to the clubs left out of the NBA bubble in Orlando.

Training Camp marks the beginning of a new season, the first with Tom Thibodeau as head coach, and one New York has been waiting for since their 2019-20 campaign was shutdown prematurely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Let’s get you up-to-speed on the key details:

• Coronavirus testing: Coronavirus testing began on Saturday in New York. Players will be required to receive three negative tests before participating in team activities.
• First workouts: Once cleared from testing, teams are allowed to conduct informal workouts with up to four players and four coaches/staff members at a time. This will begin on December 1.
• First team practices: For teams who had their players tested beginning on Saturday, they will be able to hold their first group practice on Friday; otherwise, they will have to wait until December 6.
• Preseason: The Knicks will play four exhibition games, starting on December 11 in Detroit. After a follow-up contest against the Pistons, they will return home to play the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on December 16 (and again on December 18).

New York currently has 20 players under contract heading into camp, which is the maximum allowed by the league during the offseason. That number includes 16 players on guaranteed contracts, 2 two-way players, and two more players on Exhibit 10 deals.

After waiting in the shadows to potentially pounce as a third team in the Boston-Charlotte sign-and-trade for Gordon Hayward, the Knicks made their signing of Elfrid Payton official over the weekend. They also added veteran forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on an Exhibit 10 deal. Both are expected to make the final roster, so Leon Rose and Scott Perry will remain busy working the phones and strategizing for how to shed two contracts before opening night. The Knicks can only carry 17 players (including 2 two-ways) once the season begins.

An Exhibit 10 deal allows both Kidd-Gilchrist and Seton Hall stand-out Myles Powell to participate in training camp. However, it is expected that Powell will eventually find his way to the G-League.

After plenty of hype, the Knicks decided to remain patient during the free agency period. Therefore, they will likely enter the season below the salary cap floor by close to $8 million. They will have a little more than $18 million available to spend during the season.

This training camp also marks the beginning of 2020 NBA Draft picks Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley’s professional careers.