Oct 13, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (30) makes a basket against New York Knicks center James Wiseman (35) during the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
With just days to go before the new season officially kicks off, the defending NBA champions have finally settled on their final roster. From last year, not much has changed for the Knicks, especially among the starters. Off the bench, however, they made some changes, starting with the addition of Andre Drummond in place of Mitchell Robinson.
Today, they shored up their rotation even further by trimming down the rotation, leaving just one spot available (which can’t be filled now due to cap restrictions). As expected, they waived NBA veteran Bruce Brown, paving the way for James Wiseman to secure a more long-term contract after signing an Exhibit 9 training camp deal.
“The New York Knicks are waiving Bruce Brown,” reported ESPN’s Shams Charania. “James Wiseman is set to make the Knicks regular-season roster as a reserve center.”
It was only a few years ago that Bruce Brown signed a two-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers. It came following a championship stint with the Nuggets, where he played a major role in the lineup alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. At the time, it would have been unthinkable to deny him a roster spot for James Wiseman.
Despite being the second overall pick in 2020, Wiseman nearly played himself out of the league, averaging just 6.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game on 61.1% shooting from the field over the last three seasons. Up until recently, his legacy was being a bust in the NBA, but it seems something has changed about his trajectory.
After a modest season with the Indiana Pacers, Wiseman earned a training camp invite from the Knicks, who needed some depth at the center position. Wiseman wasn’t the obvious choice at first, but coaches and teammates couldn’t help but be impressed with his performance. It only got better in the preseason, where the young big man combined for 32 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks across four games.
It’s hard to say how much Wiseman will play during the season, but expect him to get consistent minutes off the bench, especially if Karl-Anthony Towns or Andre Drummond miss any time. One thing working in Wiseman’s favor is that he’s worked with head coach Mike Brown before (during his Warriors stint), meaning there’s already some degree of familiarity.
At 25, we can say with certainty that Wiseman will not be a star in this league, but he can still provide an important spark off the bench at a position that was sorely lacking. Plus, they didn’t have to break the bank to get it done, as Wiseman comes at virtually no hit to their cap space.
Unfortunately for Bruce Brown, he’ll have to wait a little longer to get his next opportunity, but it may not be far off. The Knicks still have one spot available, which they only left open for the sake of financial flexibility. Once contracts are prorated in December, they might have the room for that last addition, which they could use to bring back Brown.
For now, however, Wiseman wins out, beating Bruce, Drew Eubanks, and Tony Bradley to become the latest member of the Knicks’ regular-season roster. As the third string center, he won’t have the pressure to perform right away, but he could easily earn a bigger role if he continues to impress.
Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media.