The Knicks may have room for two more players, but Marc Stein says the expectation is they’ll only use one of those openings. That could change if New York decides to move another guaranteed contract and create more flexibility.
One name tied to that opening is James Wiseman, and Stein points out a built-in connection: Mike Brown was on the Warriors’ staff when Wiseman was drafted. Brown is also said to be a fan of the 6-foot-11 center, who would fit a clear need as the Knicks’ third big.
Wiseman’s career has been interrupted by injuries and stops and starts. He has played only five games over the past two seasons combined, though he did appear in 63 games for Detroit in 2023/24, when he averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game.
Stein’s latest newsletter also says Gabe Vincent could have taken a training camp deal with the Knicks similar to the ones signed by Konchar and Brown, but opted to wait for a more definite opportunity instead. Vincent spent last season with both the Lakers and Hawks, putting up 4.4 points per game while shooting .392/.338/.836.
On the Kawhi Leonard front, Stein reports that the Clippers were not prepared to offer him an extension, a decision that helped push things toward his move to Toronto. That comes after earlier reporting that Leonard and the Raptors were in advanced talks on a contract extension, with the biggest possible deal reaching two years and more than $125 million.
Stein also says the Mavericks are close to naming a new head of their medical staff after parting ways with Johan Bilsborough following last season. Canadian former soccer player Nico Berg is expected to get the job, even though his only NBA experience came as a consultant with the Wolves more than a decade ago. Since then, he has worked as a consultant for teams in the NFL, NHL and Premier League, and he also previously worked with Alex McKechnie, the vice president of Player Health and Performance for the Raptors, which gives him a direct link to Mavs president Masai Ujiri.
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RJ Barrett Opens Up About Watching The Knicks Win Without Him
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Barrett also tried to shift the focus toward what comes next in Toronto, where he played a major role last season and has become part of the franchises effort to build something stronger. His message to Raptors fans was upbeat, centered on the idea that the team has a better runway ahead and needs the support around it to turn potential into results. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Brunson Just Became Even Bigger Than The Knicks
Jalen Brunson has spent the summer turning a championship run into something bigger than a banner season for the Knicks. After leading New York to its first title since 1973 and taking home Finals MVP, he has become one of the citys most visible sports figures, the kind of star whose name now travels well beyond basketball circles.
His rise is starting to show up in places Knicks fans might not have expected, a sign of how fully he has been absorbed into the citys cultural fabric. Brunsons profile now stretches far beyond Madison Square Garden, with television opportunities lining up around him as he settles into a new level of fame in New York. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Had A Telling Reaction To The Knicks Title
Tyrese Haliburtons 2026 postseason never got off the ground, and the reason was as painful as it was frustrating. He missed the playoffs while recovering from a ruptured Achilles, then had to deal with shingles during the rehab process, leaving him on the sidelines as the leagues biggest games played out without him.
Even from that distance, the Knicks championship still landed with weight. Haliburton has openly viewed New York through the lens of rivalry, but he also made clear there is respect mixed into that reaction, which says plenty about how these things look from inside the Eastern Conference battle lines. As he gets ready for the 2026-27 season, the focus now shifts to helping the Pacers chase their own title run. [Read more 🡒]