The 2016/17 Knicks season will be remembered for many things: Phil Jackson subtly – and then blatantly – suggesting the team would be better off without Carmelo Anthony; Charles Oakley being ejected and banned from Madison Square Garden; Derrick Rose disappearing with no explanation before a game; Joakim Noah receiving a 20-game suspension; Kristaps Porzingis skipping his exit interview.
New York’s results on the court were practically an afterthought, but they weren’t good either (31-51 record). So in addition to upgrading the roster, Knicks management will have to work this offseason to rebuild the franchise’s one-time reputation as a top destination for NBA players.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Knicks financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:
Guaranteed Salary
- Carmelo Anthony ($26,243,760)
- Joakim Noah ($17,765,000)
- Courtney Lee ($11,747,890)
- Lance Thomas ($6,655,325)
- Kristaps Porzingis ($4,503,600)
- Kyle O’Quinn ($4,087,500)
- Mindaugas Kuzminskas ($3,025,035)
- Willy Hernangomez ($1,435,750)
- Total: $75,463,860
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Maurice Ndour ($1,312,611)1
- Marshall Plumlee ($1,312,611)2
- Chasson Randle ($1,312,611)
- Total: $3,937,833
Restricted Free Agents
- Ron Baker ($1,512,611 qualifying offer / $1,512,611 cap hold)
- Total: $1,512,611
Cap Holds
- Derrick Rose ($30,300,000)3
- No. 8 overall pick ($3,501,120)
- Justin Holiday ($1,471,382)
- Sasha Vujacic ($1,471,382)
- Total: $36,743,884
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Maximum Cap Room: $19,588,175
- Adding the Knicks’ eight guaranteed salaries to cap holds for their first-round pick and three empty roster spots, the team’s salary totals $81,411,825. Even after waiving their three non-guaranteed players and renouncing free agents like Rose, Holiday, and Baker, that wouldn’t be nearly enough for a maximum-salary contract, so the Knicks will have to get creative – or dump salary in a Carmelo trade – if they want to make a splash in free agency.
Footnotes:
- Ndour’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.
- Plumlee’s salary becomes partially guaranteed ($100,000) after June 30.
- Rose’s cap hold is his maximum salary, based on a $101MM cap projection. If the salary cap is higher than $101MM, Rose’s cap hold would increase along with it, up to a maximum of $31,984,878.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.
The only thing NYK has going for them is their arena. Best arena in NBA in my opinion. NYK hasn’t been relevant in the NBA elite powers since mid 90s with Ewing and Oak. Melo is this generation’s TMac, individual player who never did anything with the team and played bare minimum defense, and questionable shot selection at times.
I agree they dug themselves into a gigantic hole but actually think they have a lot of things going for them at this point.
Like him or not they have an owner with lots of money that he’s willing to spend.
The president of the team is empowered by the owner to do whatever he thinks is best and has a better track record than anyone else we could get or any reporter/blogger who thinks he knows better.
Porzingis is a young, cheap and legit core player to build around.
The 8th pick in a deep draft should net us another core player.
Hernangomez, O’Quinn, Kuz, Thomas, Lee and Baker are good, young rotational players on good contracts.
Noah might be expensive but he is someone with a lot of value to a young developing team. He’s still a very good player who leads by example, holds people accountable and supports his team mates. We absolutely need players like him if we want to improve the defensive focus.
If they can trade Melo for a lottery pick this year without taking back any significant salary I think they have enough to put together a very nice team.
Unicorn is the only guy worth trading for in that roster. If I were NYK I’d draft Dennis Smith if he’s available. He has John Wall speed and won’t take shots away from KP if Melo is traded. He’s already built like a NBA caliber PG. Monk is going to be Crawford/Williams I don’t see them getting him. NYK has needed a PG since Frazier days.
I do like Baker though. He has some “Delle” in him. Too bad he doesn’t have a dribble though. O Quinn would fetch a nice haul. Maybe a Ben McElmore? Would they entertain the thought of trading for Mudiay if none of the elite PGs are available?
McLemore would be sick on the Knicks
He needs a new system. He’s great in transition and a good athlete. He needs an ELITE PG to breakdown the defenses for his set shot. He really can’t create his own shot or post up either.
He could fit in the triangle though since he’s a good 3 point shooter, maybe the Knicks should try and sign Holiday and go for Isaac in the draft.