The Knicks’ latest roster churn may end up mattering far beyond New York.
On Tuesday night, the Knicks brought Drew Eubanks into training camp. Then on Wednesday afternoon, James Wiseman joined the list of signings. With only one open roster spot and a crowded group of additions, both bigs are likely to be on the outside looking in before the 2026-2027 NBA season begins.
That’s where the Philadelphia 76ers come in. As New York sorts through its frontcourt options, Philadelphia has reason to keep a close watch on the situation. If either player is cut loose, the Sixers could be in position to take a look once their own financial situation allows it.
Eubanks, 29, arrives after a 42-game stretch with the Sacramento Kings. He played in 42 games last season and started 11, averaging 13.1 minutes per night. In that role, he shot 59.6% from the field, finished with 5.2 points per game, and added 3.0 rebounds per contest.
His path to this point has already taken him through several stops. Before Sacramento, Eubanks spent time with the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs. He has 426 games and 86 starts on his résumé, but this is the first time he could potentially be part of a legitimate championship-ready roster.
Wiseman’s story has been far different. The 25-year-old entered the league as the No. 2 pick with the Golden State Warriors, but his future there never really took hold. Golden State traded him to the Detroit Pistons during his sophomore season.
Since then, Wiseman has also spent time with the Pistons and the Indiana Pacers. His Pacers stint was especially limited, as he appeared in just five games over the last two years. A torn Achilles and a difficult run in Indiana have left him searching for another opportunity.
For Philadelphia, the bigger picture remains the same: center depth is the clearest need on the roster right now. Behind Joel Embiid, who is often injured, the options are Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti. The Sixers can also get creative with lineups that use Dominick Barlow at the five, but that isn’t a long-term answer.
In an ideal scenario, Bona or Hukporti proves capable of starting some games in Embiid’s place while also giving the team useful minutes off the bench. If neither one convinces the front office, the Sixers will likely have to explore free agency. That’s what makes New York’s preseason big-man situation worth monitoring in Philadelphia.
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LeBron James move to Philadelphia immediately changed the conversation around the Eastern Conference, and Dwyane Wades read on it only adds another layer to the decision. Wade said James approached his next step with a championship lens, viewing the 76ers as the spot that gave him the clearest path to contend after leaving the Lakers, even with Miami still in the mix as a possible return.
For a franchise that has spent years trying to keep itself in the title chase, landing a player of James stature is a massive swing, and Wade framed it as a choice driven by timing as much as comfort. Miami had history on its side, but Philadelphia offered something different: a more immediate opportunity, and the kind of opening that can reshape the balance of power before the season even settles in. [Read more 🡒]
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For a team that has to think beyond the regular-season rotation, this is more than a simple reserve-center debate. Nick Nurse will ultimately sort through the options, and there are other names in the mix for postseason minutes, including Dominick Barlow and Dean Wade, but the first question is which young big can earn trust first. Bona is still working on consistency, Hukporti on expanding his offensive package, and the answer could matter more than a typical camp competition should for a team trying to build reliable depth. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Just Lost Out On A Bench Defender They Could Use
The 76ers still have one open roster spot, but the combination of limited salary cap space and a busy market is making even modest additions harder to land. That reality matters when the front office is hunting for role players who can help right away, especially the kind of dependable bench piece who can handle physical matchups and make life easier on the second unit.
John Konchar fit that description, which is why he was a logical target for Philadelphia before he agreed to a one-year deal with the Knicks. For a team that could use more defensive grit and backcourt depth, missing out on a veteran guard like that is a small but meaningful loss, and it leaves the Sixers still searching for the right fit with little room to maneuver. [Read more 🡒]