The New York Knicks have officially locked in their 2026-27 roster, and it's a massive W for James Wiseman. In a strategic move revealed Saturday, the team waived veteran Bruce Brown to keep Wiseman on the regular-season squad. The former No. 2 overall pick secured his spot after impressing during the preseason, where he put up 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds across four games.
The Big Picture
After Mitchell Robinson dipped to join the Celtics, the Knicks were lowkey desperate for more size in the paint. While they already inked Andre Drummond to serve as the backup behind Karl-Anthony Towns, they needed extra depth. Wiseman, who came in on an Exhibit 9 training camp deal, is now moving to a league-minimum contract. This is his real shot to run it back and contribute after a quiet few years.
Can Wiseman Rebound?
It’s been a minute since Wiseman was a rotation regular. He only logged five games over the last two seasons in Indiana and hasn't been a consistent contributor since his 2023-24 run in Detroit. Historically, his defense has been a question mark, but coach Mike Brown clearly saw enough upside to trust him with spot duty. The Knicks are playing it smart with their rotation, looking to manage minutes carefully following their previous championship run. As for Bruce Brown, he’s back on the market looking for his next home after being waived.
Why it matters
Securing Wiseman gives New York some much-needed insurance at center. If he can provide reliable minutes, it keeps the team's frontcourt rotation fresh while they chase another deep playoff run.
