The New York Knicks have two vacant roster spots heading into the season as they seek to defend their title, so they’re bringing in a group of veterans to compete for them in training camp. One of them is a former NBA champion and a familiar face to Golden State Warriors fans.
The No. 2 pick from the 2020 draft signed a training camp deal with the Knicks, who appear to once again be auditioning multiple players to fill out the back of their roster. It worked out pretty well last season, with Landry Shamet winning a spot in camp and going on to average 9.3 points in 23 minutes per game, then shooting 47.5% from three-point range during the playoffs.
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The Knicks lost centers Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti in free agency this summer, with Andre Drummond stepping in to take the backup center position. It looks like they’re prepared to add a third center and a wing player, and if that’s the case, Big Jim Wiseman is competing with fellow camp invitee Drew Eubanks for that spot. New York is also bringing in Bruce Brown, John Konchar, and Ochai Agbaji, a veritable who’s-who of the summer’s “Best available free agents” lists.
At the beginning of the summer, Wiseman’s agent announced that he would continue his professional career in Europe. Clearly, the chance to play for the Knicks was more tempting than whatever European opportunities were available. It’s not a guarantee that the Knicks will add another center, but you’d think they’d want someone bigger than Mohamed Diawara to man the pivot, especially with starting power forward OG Anunoby standing just 6-foot-7.
Big Jim earned a spot in the Indiana Pacers rotation to start the 2024-25 season, only to suffer an Achilles tear five minutes into his first game. He played four games for the Pacers last season, who had a huge amount of roster churn last year due to injuries. It got so bad they used seven hardship exceptions before Christmas, with Wiseman spending two brief stints with the team.
Wiseman may not seem like the missing piece for a team that blew through the NBA playoffs last spring, but it seems like he’ll only have to beat out Eubanks to earn a roster spot. Eubanks has played significantly more than Wiseman in the last few seasons, though those totals are trending downward. He suited up for 75 games in 2023-24, 61 games for two teams in 2024-25, and 42 games for the Sacramento Kings last year, tearing a ligament in his thumb late in the season after losing playing time to rookies Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell.
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Eubanks, whose nickname is “The Shaq of Troutdale,” has a better track record of success, while Wiseman is four years younger and has a higher ceiling, though a far lower floor. With the general super-sizing of NBA front courts in recent years and the looming presence of Victor Wembanyama, the Knicks might be willing to gamble on Wiseman, who is still only 25.
At worst, Wiseman will get some training camp minutes to show off for other potential employees, in America or across the pond. He’s already proved he can cheer on a championship team from the sidelines in San Francisco. Here’s hoping he gets a chance to do in it NYC.
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