The New York Knicks' Summer League stint in Las Vegas a few weeks ago raised eyebrows when three young contributors from last season were missing. While Tyker Kolek's graduation from the summer circuit was expected, the absences of Trey Jemison III and Kevin McCullar Jr. stood out. Then came the news that Jemison had inked a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors, effectively closing his chapter in New York. This development naturally casts a shadow over McCullar's own future with the Knicks, given the parallels between the two players.

McCullar, a 56th overall pick in the 2023 draft, has had a rollercoaster journey with the franchise. Two summers ago, he skipped Summer League while recovering from a bone bruise in his right knee—an injury that derailed his final season at Kansas, where he was averaging a career-best 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists before missing the NCAA tournament. The injury caused him to slide in the draft and miss training camp entirely. He didn't resurface until January in the G League.

Last season, McCullar logged just 29 minutes across a handful of NBA appearances under Tom Thibodeau, who is notoriously stingy with minutes for rookies. But the hiring of coach Mike Brown changed the dynamic. Brown, known for his developmental approach, handed genuine opportunities to the younger players. McCullar's big moment came two days after Christmas in Atlanta, where he was the first reserve off the bench and played a career-high 23 minutes. He finished with 13 points, eight rebounds (four offensive), two steals, and three-of-six shooting from deep. For stretches, he looked like a Josh Hart clone—a high-energy, plug-and-play wing ready to contribute in Brown's system.

Yet that breakout was an outlier. McCullar saw more than ten minutes of playing time only four more times the rest of the season, including the finale when starters rested. He spent the bulk of his time in the G League with Westchester, where he averaged 16.8 points and 6.2 assists over 14 games, though his three-point shooting dipped to 29.9%. With the big club, he averaged 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.4 minutes across 21 appearances, hitting 8 of 24 three-point attempts.

Overall, McCullar's sophomore campaign was a modest step forward, but hardly enough to cement a spot on a team now chasing a championship. The Knicks won the title last season and are retooling to defend it, which likely means they will prioritize proven depth over developmental projects. The franchise is currently the only NBA team without any player signed to a two-way deal, leaving a theoretical opening. But the silence surrounding McCullar's return, coupled with his absence from Summer League, suggests the Knicks may be leaning toward a different direction. For a player with an injury history and limited production, the odds of a reunion are fading fast.