The Knicks used their final roster spot on Saturday to bring back James Wiseman, choosing the former No. 2 overall pick over ex-Denver Nuggets champion Bruce Brown and rolling the dice on a player whose promise has always been obvious.
That promise is exactly what made Wiseman so tempting in the first place. Six years ago, the Warriors drafted him second overall believing they might be landing a future superstar and the face of the franchise.
Instead, it became a cautionary tale. Now New York is taking on a version of that same bet, only with expectations dialed down and the role far more defined.
Wiseman’s appeal hasn’t changed much: size, length, athleticism, and the kind of vertical presence that jumps off the page. The Knicks see him as a third big behind All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns and veteran Andre Drummond, a player who can bring something different to the room.
“But when you have a guy that’s 25 years old, that has the length and the athleticism and the talent as a James Wiseman....You look for guys that coulda shoulda, but at his age maybe he still can be a coulda shoulda. That vertical threat at the rim, the vertical threat defensively, how good he runs, you welcome that at his size and age and athleticism," head coach Mike Brown said after the roster decision.
The problem, as the Warriors, the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers have all learned, is that raw tools have never been enough to turn Wiseman into a dependable NBA piece. At 25, he still has not shown he can consistently sort out the positioning, IQ and other intangibles that separate a gifted athlete from someone who helps a team win.
What makes this move more interesting is the messenger. Brown spent years around Wiseman in Golden State, watching up close how rough the early stages of his career were, and now he’s part of the reason the Knicks are giving him another shot.
Still, New York may be in the best possible spot to take this swing. For a reigning champion, this is the kind of low-risk, high-upside gamble that makes sense. The pressure is there, sure, but the cost is limited.
Whether Wiseman can finally turn his physical gifts into something real is the question. If this doesn’t stick, it may be his last chance to prove he belongs at the NBA level.
In Other News...
Warriors Suddenly Have An Intriguing Edge In Karl-Anthony Towns Chase
The Warriors center picture remains one of the quieter questions hanging over the franchise, and it is the kind of uncertainty that can make a star on another roster look a lot more interesting. Golden State has had past interest in Karl-Anthony Towns, and with the club still sorting out what it wants at the position, his name is worth keeping in the conversation if the market ever opens up.
Towns reported frustration with the Knicks over contract talks only adds another layer to the situation, and ESPNs Brian Windhorst has already mentioned the Warriors among the teams that could circle if he reaches free agency. Golden State also has a possible cultural connection to sell, with Al Horford and Yaxel Lendeborg both sharing Dominican heritage, a detail that could matter if the Warriors try to position themselves as a natural fit. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompson Is Facing A Familiar Problem Warriors Fans Know Too Well
Klay Thompsons preseason in Miami has looked a lot like the kind of early-season stretch Warriors fans came to know all too well over the years. He averaged just 4.3 points per game and his shooting numbers were well below his usual standards, a reminder that even after all the change around him, Thompson still has to work through the same sort of sluggish start that used to spark debate in Golden State.
Tim Hardaway Jr. has only added to the conversation by turning in a strong preseason of his own, giving Miami another option and making the rotation picture less settled. For Warriors fans, the familiar part is not just Thompsons slow start but the bigger reality around it: he is no longer being treated like an All-Star lock, and he has to earn his minutes in a way that once would have been unthinkable. [Read more 🡒]
Draymond Green Is Facing A Warriors Role Shift That Could Grow
Draymond Green has spent much of his Warriors career as the engine at the top of the floor, but this preseason he has looked a little different in Golden States offense. Steve Kerr has had him spending more time on the wings and in the corners, a subtle shift that changes how the Warriors can space the floor while still leaning on Greens passing, defensive instincts and overall command of the game.
Kerr has also sounded comfortable with Green starting at center when the roster situation calls for it, especially with other players dealing with health concerns. For a team that has long depended on Greens versatility to keep the offense and defense connected, the changing usage is worth watching because it could become more than just a temporary adjustment if Golden State keeps leaning into it. [Read more 🡒]