Knicks Target, Former Draft Bust Signs With Pacers

The New York Knicks see another center sign in free agency.

Jeremy Brener | Jul 2, 2024

Dec 18, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Detroit Pistons center James Wiseman (13) grabs a rebound against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

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The New York Knicks are in need of a big man, but the center market is drying up fast in free agency, leaving very few options left.

Another option was Detroit Pistons big man James Wiseman, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but he signed a new contract with the Indiana Pacers, according to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Wiseman, 23, entered the NBA with incredibly high expectations after being a top recruit at Memphis with coach Penny Hardaway. However, he hardly played at Memphis due to injuries, ineligibility concerns and an eventual suspension. After just three games, Wiseman left Memphis.

Even with his lack of college experience, Wiseman was selected by the Golden State Warriors just after Anthony Edwards in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was taken before All-Star LaMelo Ball and was seen as a potential star coming into the league. However, he continued to struggle with injuries and development on a Warriors team looking to get back into contention.

A knee injury cut his season short and held him out of the entire 2021-22 campaign, where the Warriors won the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

In his return the following year, the Warriors were looking to repeat but Wiseman wasn't ready to be part of a team that needed him at that level. Therefore, he was traded to the Pistons in a four-team deal.

Last season marked the healthiest of Wiseman's career, where he played 63 games and averaged 7.1 points in a reserve role for one of the worst teams in the NBA.

With Wiseman now gone, New York is probably going to search for a veteran with playoff experience, like JaVale McGee or Bismack Biyombo, to replace Hartenstein's spot.

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Published Jul 2, 2024|Modified Jul 2, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.