NEW YORK — The final weekend before opening night always forces front offices into uncomfortable financial algebra. As the roster cutdown deadline arrived on Saturday, teams across the league made their final trims to comply with standard roster limits. While most waived names consisted of Exhibit 10 camp invitations destined for G-League affiliates, a handful of genuine rotation contributors found themselves caught on the outside looking in.
Driven by second-apron fears, roster depth logjams, and luxury tax math, contenders and rebuilding clubs alike made unexpected roster cuts. For front offices holding open roster spots or looking for cheap depth, scanning the NBA waiver wire offers several intriguing reclamation projects right now.
Bruce Brown And James Wiseman Headline New York Roster Crunch
The most eye-opening name to hit the wire on Saturday afternoon came out of Manhattan. The New York Knicks opted to waive veteran guard Bruce Brown ahead of their regular season opener against Philadelphia, choosing instead to keep former top-two pick James Wiseman on a standard deal as reserve center depth.
Brown originally signed an Exhibit 9 contract in mid-September to give the organization an evaluation window. While his championship pedigree and perimeter defense made him a natural fit on paper, New York’s escalating luxury tax bill under second-apron constraints meant keeping extra guaranteed salary was out of the question.
At 30 years old, Bruce Brown remains a really good connective passer and point-of-attack defender who can instantly elevate a contender’s second unit on a veteran minimum deal once he clears waivers.
Jeremy Sochan Hit NBA Waiver Wire After Short Preseason Experiment With Portland
Out West, the Portland Trail Blazers made their own high-profile trim by waiving forward Jeremy Sochan. Originally selected ninth overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2022 draft, Jeremy Sochan joined Portland on an Exhibit 9 contract this offseason to fight for a wing spot.
Despite putting together an efficient preseason where he shot over 62 percent from the floor, Portland opted to keep an open standard roster spot for flexibility heading into the season. Sochan brings unique versatility and proven 1-through-4 defense, making him one of the most compelling reclamation candidates available.
Brandon Boston Jr. Highlights Other Notable League Trims
The Chicago Bulls also finalized their roster by waiving explosive scoring guard Brandon Boston Jr. alongside Drew Peterson and Orlando Robinson. Brandon Boston Jr. showed flashes of iso shot-creation during camp, but Chicago’s logjam at the guard position ultimately squeezed him out of the main rotation.
Meanwhile, veterans like Haywood Highsmith in Phoenix and James Johnson in Indiana were released as teams prioritized youth or roster flexibility. As these players clear waivers over the next 48 hours, expect playoff contenders with open roster slots to pounce on low-cost veteran depth before opening night.
Find me on X: @f_rederic_k
