On the second night of a back-to-back, the New York Knicks traveled north of the border to face the Toronto Raptors. Toronto featured a familiar face in Kawhi Leonard, who made his preseason debut following an offseason filled with investigations and roster moves.
With the Knicks resting their starting five, the focus shifted to the rotation players and those fighting for a spot on the final roster. With the regular season approaching next week, the matchup provided another opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate the team’s depth and determine which players could contribute when called upon.
The Knicks continued to struggle offensively, but James Wiseman provided one of the night’s bigger highlights. The center finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes, shooting 7-of-8 from the field and going perfect from the free-throw line.
Wiseman is still fighting to earn a spot on the Knicks’ final roster, and his performance certainly helped his case. The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft showed the scoring touch and interior presence that made him such a highly regarded prospect.
His performance could also give the Knicks another option in the frontcourt if he makes the roster. With head coach Mike Brown potentially looking to play Karl-Anthony Towns at power forward, having another center available alongside Andre Drummond or Towns could provide additional flexibility depending on the matchup.
Drew Eubanks is also competing for that third-center spot. He finished with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, adding another solid showing as the Knicks weigh their options at the position.
Finding a reliable third center remains one of the Knicks biggest roster decisions, with Wiseman and Eubanks among the candidates. Eubanks brings more NBA experience, including a standout stint with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022 and the Phoenix Suns in 2023, while Wiseman offers greater upside if he can continue developing into a consistent contributor.
Despite being the second overall pick Wiseman has yet to establish himself as a dependable rotation player throughout his NBA career. However, at 25 years old he still has time to put the pieces together. His performance against Toronto offered a glimpse of what he could provide if he can turn those flashes into consistent production.
The Knicks financial situation adds another layer to the decision. With the organization looking to stay below the NBA’s second salary-cap apron, the third-center position may ultimately go to a cost-effective option who can provide depth when needed. The role might not involve significant minutes every night, but having a dependable big man available could prove valuable over the course of the season.
Tony Bradley is another name worth watching. The veteran center has been in the league since 2017 and remains an option for the Knicks as they evaluate their frontcourt depth. Bradley scored 10 points in just seven minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, demonstrating his ability to make an impact in limited playing time. However, he limped off the court with a hamstring injury against Toronto, leaving his status worth monitoring.
Ultimately, the Knicks must decide between experienced options who have spent time around the league and a younger player still looking to fulfill his potential. Wiseman’s performance against Toronto strengthened his case, but the competition remains open as the team works through its final roster decisions.
The Knicks have one more preseason tune-up again against the Raptors before opening the regular season at home on Tuesday. It will be another opportunity for the rotation players and non-guaranteed roster candidates to make a final impression before the coaching staff settles on its group for the regular season
