Knicks waive Bruce Brown; Wiseman expected to take final roster spot
The Knicks announced Saturday that they have waived guard Bruce Brown ahead of the regular season, according to SNY. Center James Wiseman is expected to take the team's final roster spot before the season opener, SNY reported, and the terms of Brown's contract with New York were not disclosed.
SNY reported that New York needed to trade a player on a standard contract to keep both Brown and Wiseman below the second apron, and that it could not find a trade partner. Sports Illustrated reported the Knicks had two open roster spots but could afford only one while staying under the second apron. Posting and Toasting argued on Oct. 16 that the Knicks did not have to trade anyone to keep both players.
Earlier in the week, SNY's Ian Begley reported that the Knicks would "explore all avenues" to keep Brown and Wiseman and that it was "logical to assume" Pacome Dadiet would be a player they tried to move. Tyler Kolek was also mentioned as a trade candidate in that report.
Because New York could not send money out in a deal, it needed to include draft picks, SNY reported. The Knicks hold 11 second-round picks over the next seven drafts.
Wiseman was favored because the roster has no bigs behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, according to Sports Illustrated.
Brown played in 82 games last season after returning to the Denver Nuggets, Sports Illustrated reported. The Nuggets list him among their offseason departures, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Per WAGE, Brown's 2025-26 salary ranked 376th of the 435 rated players, while his production, a season total built across every one of Denver's games, ranked 163rd.
That $2.3M salary earned a WAGE Score of 67 last season, in the Smart Money tier, per WAGE.
In theory, the Knicks could make a trade after the first game and then bring Brown back, SNY reported.