After a great year in sport, the Knicks got even stronger this summer. A solid player base emerges with leaders and good complementing players. For the moment no financial follies, the finances remain healthy and well managed. The New York board is doing a good job, it was rare enough in recent years to be reported.
A short practical guide to Salary Cap and the Exceptions
Source : Spotrac
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Financial situation in relation to the course
- The Luxury Tax threshold is set at $ 136,606,000 this year.
- The NBA’s Salary Cap is set at $ 112,414,000 this year.
- With 119,538,642$ contractually committed for this 2021-22 season, no Luxury Tax for New York. The finances are fairly well managed with few huge contracts taking up all the space in the cap.
Madness is for MSG fans, but not for the Knicks’ salary cap tunes. Thus, sOnly three players will earn more than $ 10 million this season in New York: Julius Randle, Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose. Magistral in a team that has great ambitions for the spring. Randle, the most paid player in the workforce, will receive “only” 21.7 million in 2021-22, really not excessive when you consider the importance he has taken. Then a few reasonable contracts on more experienced players like Burks, Noel or Gibson and, most importantly, the deal to bring Kemba Walker back for 18 million over two years can prove to be excellent value for money. Likewise for the few rookie contracts that remain in the workforce with Barrett, Robinson or Quickley, the profitability between the money spent and the expected production is really nice. Just be careful when you come to the renegotiation … to make the right choices. Finally, for our greatest pleasure, note that Joakim Noah will receive another 6.4 million from the Knicks, and that’s really incredible.
Players with guaranteed contracts for the following season: 8
- Julius Randle
- Evan Fournier
- Derrick Rose
- Alec Burks
- Nerlens Noel
- Kemba Walker
- Quentin Grimes
- Miles McBrides
RJ Barrett, Obi Topin and Immanuel Quickley are still under rookie contract
The basis for next year and those to come is there and locked. The offseason was near perfect for the Knicks and the franchise board ensured continuity for at least a few years in the Big Apple. Julius Randle is locked after having extended for 4 years and 117 million, his contract will start next year. Deal top, because the Knicks avoid the max contract and keep a little flexibility. Likewise, Vavane is committed for 4 years and 78 million, our favorite bald wants to settle long term in New York and that’s another good news. Then, New York takes advantage that Kemba Walker will receive more money from the Thunder to add a very talented leader for really cheap. And since a lot of role players have also been extended for decent amounts (Gibson, Noel, Burks and Rose), the Knicks have a talented and experienced squad for several years. If we add the young talents still under contract rookies and whose franchise should lift the team options without too much hesitation, it really gives a very clean mix for this season and the following ones.
Three players in interesting situations this season
- R.J. Barrett : start of the third year in the NBA for the Canadian back and the progression must continue. We have already seen improvements in a lot of aspects of the game between his rookie and sophomore seasons, and now RJ must dominate. Potential holder, he must confirm all the good that we think of him and prove that he deserves a big contract. Indeed, a member of the 2019 draft like Zion Williamson or Ja Morant, he will be able to sign a new contract at the end of the year. So does he deserve a max contract? Big question which is likely to make reflect a lot the board of the New York franchise. If Barrett will undoubtedly want a big check like the other members of his draft previously mentioned, on the side of the management one risks to prefer a safer contract (a little like that negotiated with Julius Randle). It will therefore be up to RJ to prove that he deserves this huge check, to him to show that he has passed a course on the ground. Shall we observe and talk about it again next summer?
- Kevin Knox : and yes, we haven’t talked about it for a while but Kevin Knox is still hanging out in the Knicks squad. Like Frank Ntilikina, it’s hard to understand what the Knicks want to do in this Top 10 draft. In the last year of the contract, he will be restricted free-agent at the end of the season and in view of the last years, little chance that he remains at Big Apple. After a rookie season where he had shown great things (12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds), the forward has completely disappeared. Very little, if at all, used by Tom Thibodeau last season, his stats and playing time are in free fall. So what future for Kevin Knox? The Knicks may try to find a way out for him by the trade deadline, but which franchise is going to be able to make the bet to revive him? On the little playing time he will be granted, Keke will therefore have to prove that he deserves a place in the NBA, otherwise it will start to feel very strongly for the Shanghai Sharks.
- Mitchell Robinson : beware, this is arguably the hottest issue for the Knicks. Victim of a broken foot last year, the pivot has had a tough season with only 31 games played. However, the years go by and Robinson will end his contract next summer. Unrestricted free agent, so he will be free to commit wherever he wishes. The Knicks, if they want to keep their interior, will therefore have to flirt with Mitchou properly to find an agreement on the price and the duration. First, we wonder what role it will be given. Holder or back-up of Nerlens Noel, and not sure that Mitch is satisfied with this second option. A franchise could then arrive on the table and lay down a contract that offers more guarantees in terms of the role for the pivot. Then, which tarot will have to pose New York to keep Robinson? Some franchises craving for the inside steak could pose big on a pivot rim runner and good defender. And will the Knicks be able to afford to rise very high with the extensions of Barrett or Quickley that will have to be negotiated in the following years? It will therefore be necessary to be very attentive to this Mitchell Robinson file, already seeing how he is coming back from his injury, then looking at the contractual situation.
