After the New York Knicks waived Bruce Brown before the regular season, one source says the defending champions didn't try to keep him. Many assumed the Knicks would make a trade to free up roster space and keep Brown and James Wiseman ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Knicks reportedly didn't shop a player before waiving Brown, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“The Knicks, according to one source briefed on the talks, did not shop reserve guard Tyler Kolek to try to make roster room for Bruce Brown before Brown's release Saturday,” Stein reported.
I'm told that Kolek would only have been dealt before Tuesday's season opener against visiting Philadelphia if the deal brought a coveted center to New York.”
Bruce Brown, who helped the Denver Nuggets win a championship in 2023, signed with the Knicks over the summer. He was expected to be an ideal addition to the defending champions' supporting cast this season before the team released him before Opening Night.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown, who coached Wiseman as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, will reunite with the veteran forward this season.
Article Continues Below“When you have a guy that's 25 years old, that has the length and the athleticism and the talent [of] a James Wiseman, because [Karl-Anthony Towns is] not athletic like that and Andre [Drummond] was once that — he still has some of it — … [Wiseman's] vertical threat at the rim, the vertical threat defensively, how good he runs, you welcome that at his size and age and athleticism,” Brown said on Sunday.
The Knicks will host the Philadelphia 76ers in their season opener at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.