Knicks Keep James Wiseman, Waive Bruce Brown

James Wiseman made the New York Knicks. The defending champions waived veteran wing Bruce Brown on Saturday, handing the 14th and final roster spot to the former No. 2 overall pick, per ESPN and the New York Post.

New York could only carry 14 players to stay under the second apron, per the Post, so camp turned into a five-man fight for one job between Wiseman, Brown, Drew Eubanks, Tony Bradley and Ochai Agbaji. It came down to Wiseman and Brown, and the Knicks needed a big.

Why Wiseman won the job

Mitchell Robinson left for the Celtics in free agency, and Andre Drummond came in as the cheaper backup behind Karl-Anthony Towns. That left a need for a third center, and with Towns prone to foul trouble, that role matters more than it sounds.

Wiseman did enough in October to earn it. He averaged 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in four preseason appearances, per CBS Sports. New York will convert his training camp deal into a league minimum contract.

Knicks coach Mike Brown, who was a Warriors assistant when Golden State drafted Wiseman, has been in his corner. "He's young, he's talented, he's raw, still," Brown said. "But with the God-given attributes he has, in terms of athleticism and length and quickness, [that] can bode well for him on both ends of the floor. And at 25 years old, he hasn't even reached his prime."

A second chance for a former No. 2 pick

This is a real comeback shot. Wiseman played just five games over the last two seasons after tearing his Achilles in the first game of the 2024 season, per the Post. His last steady run came with Detroit in 2023-24, when he averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 63 games, per CBS Sports. Now he gets a spot on a title team with a clear job description: be ready when the bigs get in foul trouble.

Bruce Brown squeezed out by the apron

Brown did not lose this spot by playing badly. He played all 82 games last season with Denver, averaging 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists, per CBS Sports. He is a wing, though, and the Knicks needed size.

The Post reports New York would have liked to keep both, but that required a trade to clear room and no deal has come together. The Knicks can still bring Brown back if they find one, with Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek named as the likeliest pieces. For now, Brown is free to sign anywhere, and plenty of contenders could use a veteran who never misses a game.

The roster is set, and the party is close. The Knicks raise their first championship banner in 53 years on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden before tipping off against LeBron James and the 76ers. Wiseman gets to be part of ring night, and Garden fans will be loud for every minute he earns.