Despite a public mandate from James Dolan, the New York Knicks actually have a path to roster both veterans Bruce Brown and James Wiseman for Opening Night without making a trade. This surprising development throws a wrench into what seemed like an impossible roster crunch, even if it comes with its own set of risks.
The Roster Puzzle
The Knicks are currently facing a tricky roster dilemma, sitting with 13 players on standard contracts, which is two below the maximum and one below the minimum. Their goal is to add two key veterans, Bruce Brown and James Wiseman, both on Exhibit 10 contracts. The big problem? They can only roster one of them while staying under the dreaded second apron, a line team owner James Dolan has declared a hard cap for the team.
Brown and Wiseman have both clawed their way up from a group of veterans battling for that 14th roster spot, proving their worth so much that the Knicks want to keep both. We saw a similar situation last year with Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet, a puzzle solved only when Brogdon retired. Right now, James Wiseman is considered the heavy favorite, with insider Ian Begley even calling him a lock. If Wiseman secures his spot, it would leave the team scrambling to find a place for Brown in a tough environment.
The Trade-Offs No One Wants
To keep both Brown and Wiseman while still adhering to Dolan’s financial mandate, the prevailing wisdom said the Knicks would have to trade someone. The most talked-about candidate has been third-year player Pacôme Dadiet. He is buried on the depth chart and running out of time to prove himself, and with his team option almost certainly being declined by the end of October, he’s likely on an expiring contract. Unfortunately, his value is so low that he’s considered a negative asset.
This difficult situation led the team to explore shopping the more productive reserve point guard Tyler Kolek. However, moving Kolek would leave the Knicks significantly more vulnerable to injury at the lead ballhandler position, a sacrifice no team wants to make as the regular season approaches. Leon Rose and the front office have been trying to sort through these options, but each presented its own significant downside.
The Risky Loophole
It turns out there’s a different way to navigate this roster nightmare, one that requires extreme savviness and careful daily management. The Knicks *can* retain both Wiseman and Brown into Opening Night without any trades at all. It’s a high-stakes play, but it’s on the table.
The simple fact is, the Knicks have two open roster spots, allowing them to sign both players. Furthermore, the team is *not* hard-capped at the second apron, which means they are technically allowed to exceed it. The catch, and it’s a huge one, is that signing both would push the team over that second apron line. While a sudden change of heart from Dolan is always possible, the article notes it would be “idiotic and a very bad look” to cross that line for Bruce Brown after reportedly not doing so for homegrown fan favorite Mitchell Robinson. The front office now has a path, but it’s one that directly challenges the owner’s explicit mandate.
The Knicks front office now faces a critical decision as Opening Night looms. Do they make a tough trade, potentially weakening their depth at a key position, or do they brave the owner’s wrath by pushing past the second apron to keep both promising veterans? The next few days will reveal just how much Leon Rose and company value Brown and Wiseman, and what they’re willing to risk to keep them on the roster.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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