James Wiseman may have given the Knicks exactly the kind of preseason push that can swing a roster battle.
New York’s camp has been competitive from the start, and that has turned the final spots into a real fight. The team entered camp with several players on Exhibit 9 deals, including Wiseman, and with only two roster spots open and the Knicks approaching the second apron, every minute has carried extra weight.
On Tuesday, Wiseman took advantage of the chance in front of him. With the Knicks resting their starters in their final preseason game, he got the start and delivered an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double in a 148-98 loss to the Raptors. He shot 7-of-8 from the field and made his presence felt as a big man who can give New York needed depth.
That outing could matter even more because of how the center rotation has played out in camp. The Athletic’s James L.
Edwards III reported that New York needs a third center and will likely use the 14th roster spot on one. He noted that Wiseman has been the first big man on a training-camp deal that Mike Brown has turned to, with Drew Eubanks and Tony Bradley falling behind in that pecking order.
Edwards also pointed out that the Knicks should strongly consider bringing Bruce Brown onto the main roster because of his championship experience and versatility, but the signs still point toward the team keeping a center.
Wiseman already had a real shot before Tuesday. After that performance, the case only got stronger. The former second overall pick showed enough in one night to make the Knicks keep looking his way, and his familiarity with Mike Brown from their time together in Golden State adds another layer to the equation.
For a team still sorting out the back end of the roster, that kind of game can go a long way.
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Knicks Roster Battle Took Shape In A Blowout Fans Can Ignore
The Knicks trip to Toronto was the kind of preseason loss that barely registers in the standings but can still matter in the back of the roster. New York fell to 0-4 with its top-seven players unavailable, leaving the game to serve more as an audition than an evaluation of the teams real rotation. From that angle, the focus turned to the active players who got extended looks, including Nickel, Eubanks and Wiseman, and what they showed in a game that was never really about the final score.
What made the night worth watching was less the blowout than the way it sharpened the roster conversation. The Knicks are still sorting through which fringe pieces can help beyond camp, and this matchup offered a clearer view of strengths and weaknesses than a typical preseason box score ever could. Even with the result fully detachable from the standings, performances like these can still leave a mark on how the final decisions get made. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Still Face One Roster Decision That Could Change Their Bench
With one roster spot still open, the Knicks are weighing a decision that could shape the balance of their bench heading into the season. The choice comes down to James Wiseman and Bruce Brown, two very different players who would fill different needs as New York rounds out the back end of the roster.
Browns experience and defensive versatility stand out as obvious selling points for a team looking to tighten up its second unit. There is also a path, at least in theory, for the Knicks to keep both if they work out a trade involving Pacme Dadiet and second-round draft picks before the season opener, which would give the front office a little more flexibility while leaving this final roster call unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Title Glow Just Got Hit With A James Dolan Problem
The Knicks are set to start the 2026-27 season against the 76ers with a ring ceremony waiting for a core group that now includes Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. It is the kind of opening-night spotlight the franchise has spent years chasing, a chance to celebrate a title and let a home crowd soak in the payoff.
But even with the banner moment on the horizon, the mood around the front office has already taken a hit after contract extension talks with Towns and Hart were halted when the offers reportedly came in below what the players believed they were worth. Stephen A. Smith has since singled out James Dolan for ending the negotiations, arguing the owner may be putting other priorities ahead of keeping the title core together, which leaves one of the league's best storylines carrying an uncomfortably familiar Knicks wrinkle. [Read more 🡒]