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The Wrist Clock Is Ticking Toward Preseason

Brunson's Oct. 1 target beats the preseason opener, and camp's real story is roster math.

$230.2MTeam Payroll
By the Knicks Nightly Desk · Wednesday, September 23

Jalen Brunson is day-to-day with a left wrist issue, but his target return date beats the Oct. 5 preseason opener by four days. The rest of camp's story is roster math: a $230.2 million bill and a back end of the roster that still isn't settled.

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Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Wrist Watch

Brunson is day-to-day with a left wrist issue, targeting an Oct. 1 return. Mohamed Diawara carries a finger issue on the same timeline. Both have breathing room: the preseason opener lands four days after Brunson's target, and the real opener is three weeks out.

Preseason Slate

The preseason opens Oct. 5 at Philadelphia, then home dates against Washington on Oct. 8 and Minnesota on Oct. 12, before a trip to Toronto on Oct. 13. The regular season starts Oct. 20 at home against the 76ers, on NBC and Peacock.

Wire Chatter

The lone item on the wire was a Hoops Rumors roundup lumping the Knicks in with Barrett, the Raptors and the 76ers, with no reporting attached beyond the headline. That's noise, not news.

The Bill

New York's roster costs $230.2 million this season, above the second apron, well past the $200.4 million tax line. Karl-Anthony Towns' $57.1 million leads it, with Brunson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges all above $33 million apiece.

Spots Still Open

Bruce Brown arrived from Denver without a guarantee attached, and Hoops Rumors still frames the back of the roster as an open fight beyond Liam Robbins' release. Nothing this week settled it.

Will Jalen Brunson be ready for the preseason opener?

He's targeting an Oct. 1 return from a left wrist issue, four days ahead of the Oct. 5 preseason opener at Philadelphia.

When do the Knicks open the regular season?

Oct. 20 at home against the 76ers, on NBC and Peacock.

By the Knicks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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