The Knicks still have one roster spot to sort out before Opening Night, and two veteran names are hanging around that conversation.
Bruce Brown looks like the cleaner fit if New York chooses to add another experienced piece. Insider James Edwards said on the ‘Putback’ show, “I think they find a way to keep him, whether now or later,” and Brown’s résumé explains why he keeps coming up.
The 30-year-old has spent eight years in the league and was part of the 2023 championship Nuggets team. Last season, he played all 82 games for Denver and averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.2 blocks while shooting 47.5% from the field.
That said, the Knicks may choose to use that final opening on their frontcourt instead. Edwards pointed to James Wiseman as the name gaining momentum at center, with Tony Bradley also in the mix.
“It feels like Wiseman is the frontrunner. He was the first non-guaranteed guy off the bench in the first preseason game.
He got the start in Toronto,” Edwards added. “It feels like that’s a sign, but it’s hard to see when we don’t get to see practice.
I thought Tony Bradley had a few good minutes the other day.”
Wiseman, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, has had an uneven NBA run, but his work over the last two seasons in Indiana earned him another shot. He’s already flashed in New York, too.
On Tuesday against the Raptors, he started and delivered 18 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 87.5% from the floor. His chance to carve out a role is clearly there, especially with Mike Brown, who previously coached him with the Warriors.
However the Knicks finish the roster, the financial guardrails remain in place. Team owner James Dolan has made it clear the team is not looking to spend endlessly, so any move has to fit that reality. That leaves New York shopping at the minimum level and trying to squeeze value out of low-risk additions.
It may not look flashy, but that’s where the Knicks are operating now. With teams like the 76ers, Pacers, Celtics, and Cavaliers in the mix, the margin for error is thin, and New York’s next move will come down to finding the piece that helps most without disturbing the bigger plan.
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James Wiseman May Have Forced His Way Into Knicks Final Roster Spot
James Wiseman arrived in camp on an Exhibit 9 deal, the kind of low-risk signing that usually reads more like an invitation than a guarantee. But as preseason has rolled on, the former No. 1 pick has given the Knicks reason to pay closer attention, especially after a double-double that added some real weight to his push for a roster spot.
The Knicks do not have many openings to work with, and the back end of the roster is still very much in play. Still, Wiseman has at least put himself into the conversation as a possible third center, and Mike Browns previous experience coaching him only adds another layer to a decision that could come down to fit as much as upside. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]