The New York Knicks are down to the wire on finalizing their regular season roster, and the competition for that final spot is absolutely heating up. For a while, all signs were pointing to James Wiseman having the edge, largely because the team’s brass has a critical need for a third center. It’s a tricky situation with a lot riding on it.
Wiseman’s Edge and a Key Injury Development
New York needs that third center, plain and simple, and it looked like the 14th roster spot was gonna go to whoever could fill that role. James Wiseman was the first big man on a training-camp deal that Brown, presumably coach Tom Thibodeau, was tapping into games. Drew Eubanks and Tony Bradley were trailing behind him in that race. The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III even laid it out, saying, “New York needs a third center and will likely use the 14th roster spot to address it. James Wiseman has been the first big man on a training-camp deal who Brown has tapped to check into games, with Drew Eubanks and Tony Bradley falling behind. The Knicks should strongly consider adding Bruce Brown to the main roster given his championship experience and positional versatility, but all signs point to the team keeping a center right now.” Then, Thursday hit with a curveball: Drew Eubanks got waived after suffering an injury, a pectoral injury, according to ESPN. That totally shifts things for Wiseman, putting him in an even more favorable spot to grab that roster place.
The Bruce Brown Buzz and Trade Talks
But hold up, because Bruce Brown is still in the mix, big time. SNY’s Ian Begley believes the Knicks should seriously think about trading an existing player to make room for Brown. Begley put it out there, “Bruce Brown has also put himself in good position to get roster spot, but Knicks would need to trade a rostered player to make that happen. Brown, in my opinion, would be a great value addition for the Knicks, giving them strong veteran depth in case of injury.” That’s a strong take! And guess what? Later on Thursday, NBA insider Brett Siegel from ClutchPoints reported that New York is actually exploring a trade involving Pacome Dadiet. Siegel wrote, “As the 2026-27 season draws near and teams contemplate roster spots, the Knicks and Lakers have both actively been exploring trade talks to move Pacome Dadiet and Dalton Knecht, respectively, sources told ClutchPoints.” If they can pull off a trade like that, it opens up a whole new world for Brown.
Why Bruce Brown Is Such a Valuable Asset
Look, bringing Bruce Brown onto the main roster just makes sense. The guy brings serious versatility and, crucially, championship experience. He’s a team-first player, willing to do whatever it takes to win, and he can fill multiple positions when the team needs him to. We saw it in the preseason; he showed he could be a super valuable contributor during the regular season. As an NBA champion, he knows what it’s like to play under pressure for a title and understands the expectations that come with being on a championship-contending team. That kind of veteran presence, especially depth in case of injury, is priceless for a team looking to go deep.
The Knicks only have a few more days to make this call before the regular season kicks off. Will they pull the trigger on a trade to bring in Brown’s championship pedigree, or stick with Wiseman to fill that center need? Either way, this final roster spot is shaping up to be a game-changer for how this team approaches the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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