The New York Knicks chose to waive veteran Bruce Brown rather than trade young guard Tyler Kolek to create roster space. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the team did not shop Kolek in any talks before Brown's release on Saturday. This decision highlights the organization's view of Kolek as a player they want to develop. The move comes as the Knicks finalize their roster following a 122-120 preseason victory over the Toronto Raptors on October 15.
Sources briefed on the Knicks' discussions say the front office was very selective. Tyler Kolek would only have been moved in a deal that brought a coveted center to New York. No such trade materialized before Tuesday's deadline, so the team proceeded with waiving Bruce Brown. Kolek, a reserve guard, remains with the squad as they head into the regular season. This signals the Knicks see long-term value in the young player.
Brown had signed with New York in the summer after helping the Denver Nuggets win the 2023 championship. Many around the league expected him to be a key piece in the Knicks' supporting cast. His release just before Opening Night was a surprise to some observers. Coach Mike Brown, who previously worked with James Wiseman at Golden State, will now integrate the young big man instead. He praised Wiseman's athleticism and vertical threat at both ends of the floor.
New York's preparation has been a mixed bag. Their most recent outing was a narrow 122-120 win against the Raptors. That followed a tough 148-98 loss to Toronto just two days prior on October 13. Other preseason results included a 104-122 defeat to Minnesota and a close 109-111 loss to Washington. They opened their exhibition slate with a 120-97 loss in Philadelphia on October 5. You can review the full schedule on our schedule page.
Attention now turns to the real games. The Knicks will host the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, October 20, for their season opener. It's a marquee Eastern Conference matchup to start the campaign. The team will hope their preseason finale momentum carries over. Integrating James Wiseman and settling the rotation will be immediate tasks for Coach Mike Brown and his staff as they chase playoff positioning.
