Miami Professional Athletes

Bruce Brown's Championship Run Ends in a Roster Crunch

It was a tough week for one Miami Cane and a promising one for another.

Bruce Brown, who won a championship ring with the Knicks, found himself on the wrong side of a brutal roster math problem before the 2026-27 season even tipped off. New York waived the veteran guard on October 17 to retain James Wiseman — the former No. 2 overall pick — for the team's final roster spot, a move driven largely by salary-cap constraints. The Knicks needed to stay under the second apron, and with only 14 available slots, Brown was the odd man out.

Head coach Mike Brown didn't hide his admiration for the player he was letting go. Speaking to media on October 18, he praised Bruce Brown's toughness, versatility, and fit with the team — but ultimately explained that Wiseman's age (25) and upside tipped the scales. Reports also emerged that New York never seriously explored trading Tyler Kolek or other players to clear space and keep Brown, suggesting the front office was comfortable moving on. For a veteran who contributed to a championship run, it's a jarring exit — though one that could quickly turn into a reunion or a landing spot elsewhere if a contender comes calling.

KyShawn George Is Making Noise in Washington

While Brown searches for his next chapter, fellow Miami alumnus KyShawn George is writing a strong opening one in Washington. The Wizards forward posted 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, a block, and a steal in 28 minutes during an Oct. 21 win over the Bucks — a performance backed by a +13 plus-minus that suggests he wasn't just padding a blowout stat line.

His follow-up against the Raptors on Oct. 23 was a quieter 11-point, 3-assist outing in a loss, though his 2 steals showed continued defensive engagement. Through two games, George is averaging 14.5 points and logging consistent minutes for a Wizards team still very much in rebuilding mode — which means opportunity, and lots of it.

For Miami fans, George is the name to watch. He's young, he's playing, and he's producing.

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Elsewhere in the alumni ledger: Jordan Miller (Clippers), Lonnie Walker IV and Davon Reed (Nuggets), and Isaiah Wong (Hornets) are all on active rosters to open the season, though none generated notable headlines this week.

It was a rough preseason stretch for Miami alumni in the NBA. Within the same week, both Bruce Brown and Lonnie Walker IV — two former Hurricanes guards — found themselves cut loose before opening night, with very different roads ahead.

Bruce Brown: Outlasted by a Former No. 2 Pick

Brown came close. Signed by the defending-champion New York Knicks on an Exhibit 9 contract, the veteran guard spent training camp competing for one of the team's final roster spots and was considered a genuine finalist. In the end, the Knicks chose former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman over Brown, waiving the Miami product Saturday ahead of New York's season opener against Philadelphia.

The decision came down to positional need: with Drew Eubanks already lost to a pectoral injury, the Knicks prioritized frontcourt depth that Wiseman could provide. Brown, a 2023 NBA champion with Denver, now becomes an unrestricted free agent. The situation drew significant attention throughout the preseason — multiple reports urged New York to pursue a trade that would allow them to keep both players — but the Knicks ultimately went with size over versatility.

Lonnie Walker IV: Camp Flop, Then a Transatlantic Pivot

Walker's situation resolved even more quickly. The guard joined Denver on a non-guaranteed deal after previously opting out of a contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv, but the Nuggets training camp tryout didn't pan out. Denver waived Walker, who cleared waivers and wasted little time finding his next landing spot — signing with Turkish club Beşiktaş just days after his NBA exit.

The Nuggets, for their part, moved on swiftly: the team signed and immediately waived 28-year-old wing Pedro Bradshaw as part of their ongoing roster maneuvering in Walker's wake.

The Bigger Picture

The twin exits underscore a squeeze that fringe NBA veterans know well — roster spots at the back end are scarce, and training camp is unforgiving even for players with championship pedigree. Brown, 29, still figures to draw NBA interest as a free agent given his playoff résumé. Walker, 27, heads to the EuroLeague circuit with Beşiktaş, a path not unlike the one he took before resurfacing in Denver.

For Miami fans, there's still plenty to track in the Association. Kyshawn George is with Washington, Jordan Miller is in Los Angeles with the Clippers (though he's currently dealing with an injury heading into the regular season), and Isaiah Wong is in Charlotte. But this week belonged to the waiver wire — and two Hurricanes who came up just short of making an NBA opening-night roster.