Knicks Keep James Wiseman and Waive Bruce Brown

The New York Knicks have retained James Wiseman for the 2026-27 NBA season, choosing the 25-year-old center over veteran wing Bruce Brown to fill the final roster spot. The decision, finalized on Saturday, October 17, gives the defending champions additional frontcourt depth following Mitchell Robinson's departure to the Boston Celtics.

According to CBS Sports, New York waived Brown after training camp and converted Wiseman's Exhibit 9 contract into a league-minimum deal. The move followed a preseason in which Wiseman averaged 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds across four appearances.

Wiseman finished the preseason with 18 points and 10 rebounds, according to Sports Yahoo. The Knicks also confirmed that he would wear jersey No. 35, as the team prepared for its opening night and the start of the regular season.

New York added Andre Drummond in free agency to serve as Karl-Anthony Towns' primary backup at center. With Robinson joining Boston, Wiseman offers another option at the position as the Knicks manage player workloads following their championship campaign.

Head coach Mike Brown saw enough from Wiseman during the preseason to keep him on the roster, according to CBS Sports. However, the former second overall draft pick is expected to begin the season as a reserve, with his playing time dependent on the team's needs.

Wiseman entered the NBA with considerable expectations after ranking as the nation's No. 1 high school recruit in the Class of 2019. Following a brief college stint at Memphis, the Golden State Warriors selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Although Wiseman won an NBA championship with Golden State, he struggled to establish himself as a consistent contributor. He later played for the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, with injuries restricting him to just five appearances across two seasons in Indiana.

His most substantial recent opportunity came with Detroit during the 2023-24 season, when he averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 63 games, according to CBS Sports. The outlet also noted that defensive shortcomings had limited his progress since entering the league.

Brown, meanwhile, leaves New York after failing to secure a regular-season roster spot despite his championship experience with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. According to CBS Sports, he appeared in all 82 games for Denver during the previous season, averaging 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

The Knicks' decision also created a potential opportunity for the Philadelphia 76ers to revisit their interest in Brown, according to The Sixer Sense. Philadelphia had previously considered adding the veteran but lacked an available roster spot after filling its veteran-minimum positions with LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

The Sixer Sense reported that Brown could offer Philadelphia defensive versatility and secondary ball-handling experience if the franchise creates room on its roster. The outlet identified Justin Edwards, the team's third-string wing, as one player whose development could affect the need for another option at the position.