Knicks’ Drew Eubanks suffers torn pectoral, will be waived

Drew Eubanks’ bid to make the Knicks is over. The veteran center suffered a torn pectoral muscle and will be sidelined for an extended period, according to reports Thursday, and New York intends to waive him.

Eubanks, 29, was one of three veteran centers – along with James Wiseman and Tony Bradley – competing for the Knicks’ third center spot this fall. He appeared in three preseason games, totaling 13 points and three rebounds in 28 minutes.

Because Eubanks signed an Exhibit 9 contract, which protects teams when a player is hurt during camp or the preseason, the Knicks will owe only a one-time $15,000 payment that counts against their cap rather than his salary while he recovers.

An eight-year veteran who entered the league undrafted in 2018, Eubanks has played 426 regular season games for the Spurs, Trail Blazers, Suns, Jazz, Clippers and Kings. He made 42 appearances with 11 starts for Sacramento last season, averaging 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game.

His exit leaves the battle for New York’s 14th roster spot to Wiseman and Bradley, with SNY’s Ian Begley reporting Wiseman had emerged as the frontrunner even before the injury. The Knicks have 13 players on guaranteed contracts, and carrying a full 15-man roster would push them above the second tax apron, which owner James Dolan has ruled out.