Following Thursday’s cut of three veteran invitees, SNY.tv’s Ian Begley says James Wiseman is a sure bet for the regular‑season roster. Yet Bruce Brown, the lone swingman left, may not be the one left behind. Can the Knicks keep both?
The organization reportedly rallies behind Brown, Begley adds, and the front office will pull every lever to keep him on board.
Technically the Knicks could stash Wiseman as a 14th man and Brown as a 15th, but that would tip the payroll past the second‑apron ceiling—something James Dolan has vowed to avoid. A trade, then, becomes essential, with 2024 first‑rounder Pacome Dadiet topping the price list.
Begley expects New York to explore extra trade angles, perhaps even moving guard Tyler Kolek, before Monday’s roster deadline. Either deal will likely need at least one second‑rounder attached. In my view, the salary squeeze makes a swap unavoidable.
Other clubs are hunting similar cap‑dump opportunities, so competition will be fierce. Still, the Knicks own a stack of future second‑round picks to sweeten any bargain.
We have more from around the Atlantic:
- Joel Embiid finally returns after missing more than 39 games each of the past three seasons, and he arrives at full strength this fall. Tyrese Maxey told ESPN’s Kris Rhim, “It changes everything for the Sixers. If you haven’t played with a big like Joel – there aren’t many – it’s tough to learn certain things. With him back, we can drill those concepts night after night. That’s a huge boost.”
- Mark Medina of RG.org sat down with Marcus Mason, the longtime trainer of Celtics guard Jayson White, to discuss the veteran’s offseason focus and why his shooting should rebound in 2026/27. Will the Knicks secure both Wiseman and Brown before the deadline?