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The Garden Line · Around the beat

Knicks Hear The Noise, But The Facts Draw The Line

The Post, ESPN and Hoops Rumors have plenty to say on opening eve. Only some of it holds up against the roster.

$227.7MPayroll, past the top apron line
By the Knicks Nightly Desk · Monday, October 19

Outlets are fixed on Bruce Brown's exit, the Towns contract and a loud 76ers opener. The Knicks' own facts back the first, leave the second open and keep the third in check.

Knicks Nightly artwork
Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Brown Out

ESPN reported, citing sources, that the Knicks were waiving Bruce Brown and keeping James Wiseman. The New York Post's Jared Schwartz framed the cut as clearing the last roster spot for Wiseman, and Hoops Rumors logged Brown on waivers October 17. The roster agrees: Brown is gone, Wiseman is here, and he put up 18 points and 10 rebounds in the 98-148 loss at Toronto. That does not settle the rotation. Towns, Drummond and Wiseman are the bigs, and nothing says who plays behind Towns. The Post also noted Mike Brown speaking fondly of Bruce Brown. That is sentiment, not a roster fact.

Towns Clock

The Post's Steve Serby asked Kendrick Perkins how Mike Brown should handle the Towns contract drama. That is Perkins's opinion, printed by the Post. The facts are thinner. Extension talks were paused, Towns said October 11 he was very disappointed, and nothing has been reported since. Towns is the top salary at $57.1M. Payroll is $227.7M, past the $221.7M line for the top apron. The pressure is real. A resolution is not reported.

Rivalry Talk

Schwartz wrote in the Post that the Knicks are not scared of LeBron James or a brewing rivalry with a 76ers superteam. Stefan Bondy wrote that New York has flipped the script on James. ESPN has the Knicks hosting Philadelphia to open the season. The 76ers' list of last season's top players does include Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, James and Joel Embiid, who played 38 games. But Philadelphia went 45-37 with a net rating of minus 0.1. New York went 53-29 at plus 6.4. Anfernee Simons has a hamstring listing and Ariel Hukporti is out. Josh Hart's ankle problem carries a Tuesday return date.

Trade Chatter

Bondy predicted the Knicks will finally trade a guard. The Post also reported that Miles McBride's agent left the door open to future talks. Our file holds no trade report and no McBride contract terms. Treat both as the Post's reading, not news.

Bottom Line

The outlets say a repeat is brutal. The facts say the roster is set, the champions had four days of rest, and one question is unresolved. That question is Towns.

Why did the Knicks waive Bruce Brown?

ESPN reported, citing sources, that the Knicks were waiving Brown and keeping James Wiseman. The Post's Jared Schwartz wrote that the move cleared the final roster spot for Wiseman.

Is Karl-Anthony Towns' extension done?

No. Talks were paused, Towns said October 11 he was very disappointed, and no new decision has been reported. He is the Knicks' highest-paid player at $57.1M.

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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