Knicks May Need One More Trade to Keep Both James Wiseman and Bruce Brown
The Knicks reportedly need a trade to retain James Wiseman and Bruce Brown below the second apron, with Pacome Dadiet emerging as a potential exit.
The New York Knicks have reportedly moved closer to finalizing their roster, but keeping both James Wiseman and Bruce Brown could require another transaction before Opening Night.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, both players have strengthened their chances of earning a place. The difficulty is financial: New York reportedly has enough room below the second apron to retain only one camp veteran under its current roster structure.
That leaves the front office weighing whether to choose between them or move a player already under contract.
Reported Cuts Narrow the Competition
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Knicks waived Drew Eubanks, Tony Bradley and Ochai Agbaji. Eubanks’ departure follows a reported torn pectoral muscle.
Those moves reduce the number of players competing for places, but they do not resolve the reported spending constraint preventing New York from keeping both Wiseman and Brown.
Begley’s reporting also indicates that Wiseman had positioned himself well to make the team before Eubanks’ injury. His standing was therefore already improving, rather than simply benefiting from an unexpected opening.
For the Knicks, the remaining question is how to accommodate the players they want within their chosen financial limits.
Wiseman and Brown Offer Different Forms of Depth
Wiseman would give New York another option at center, strengthening its ability to manage minutes and respond to absences in the frontcourt.
Brown would provide a different kind of insurance. His experience and positional versatility could help cover gaps across perimeter lineups, offering the coaching staff another veteran option when circumstances require adjustments.
Begley described Brown as a potentially valuable addition, particularly as protection against injuries. That was his assessment, rather than a confirmed statement of the Knicks’ final plans.
Keeping both would allow New York to address separate needs. Choosing only one would require prioritizing which type of depth matters most.
Pacome Dadiet Emerges as a Potential Trade Candidate
ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel reported that the Knicks are working to find a trade involving Pacome Dadiet before the regular season begins.
A move could help create the flexibility needed to retain Wiseman and Brown, although the outcome would depend on the transaction’s structure. Any incoming salary would affect how much room New York actually gains.
No completed trade, destination or return is identified in the supplied reporting. Dadiet is therefore a player to watch, rather than a confirmed departure.
For the front office, moving him would involve weighing a young player’s development against the immediate usefulness of additional veteran depth.
Opening Night Brings the Decision Into Focus
The Knicks are scheduled to host the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden next Tuesday, bringing their roster decisions into the final stretch.
The reported cuts have clarified the competition, and both Wiseman and Brown appear to have made strong cases. Accommodating them together now depends on whether New York can complete a suitable move elsewhere.
A Dadiet trade could provide that route. Until an agreement is reached, however, the Knicks still face a choice between two players who could help their championship defense in different ways.
