New York Knicks fans have plenty to be happy about, as their team won its first NBA title in 53 years on Saturday and its first since owner James Dolan took control in 1999. On the other hand, they might have to say goodbye to some players this offseason.
The Knicks are currently $3.5 million under the first salary cap apron and $16.5 million under the second for next season, per Spotrac. However, center Mitchell Robinson, guard Jordan Clarkson, guard Landry Shamet, forward Mohamed Diawara and center Ariel Hukporti are not under contract. Additionally, guard Jose Alvarado has a $4.5 million player option.
Retaining the majority of those players would likely require going into the second apron, which Dolan said on "The Craig Carton Show" on WFAN that he doesn't want to do.
"Most of our guys are under contract; we have a couple of guys who are not. If we could bring back the whole team exactly as it is, why wouldn't you? But I don't know if we're going to be able to," Dolan said on Wednesday. "Just contractually. We're willing to stretch, but there are certain things in the NBA that you have to be suicidal to do, and we're not going to do those. ... Cannot go into the second apron. But that's up to [general manager] Leon [Rose]. I'm just telling him how big of a check I can write."
Knicks Will Likely Make Sacrifices
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
If Alvarado accepts his option by the June 29 deadline, he and fellow guard Miles McBride will be the only bench players under contract who were in New York's 2026 playoff rotation. Besides the starting five, the other remaining players signed for next season are guards Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet. Kolek averaged 4.4 points on 43.5% shooting (38.6% from 3-point range) with 2.7 assists against 0.9 turnovers in 11.7 minutes (62 games) in the regular season, while Dadiet averaged just 4.7 minutes in 29 games.
Robinson is likely New York's most expensive free agent, as he has a cap hold (placeholder cap hit) of $24.6 million on Spotrac, while everyone else is in the $2 million to $3 million range. The 7-foot, 240-pounder is the longest-tenured Knick and was second in the league (minimum 50 games played) with 4.2 offensive rebounds per game this season.
Meanwhile, Shamet averaged 9.3 points on 43.7% shooting (39.2% 3-point shooting) over 23 minutes (51 games) in the regular season before shooting 47.5% from deep on 3.2 average attempts in the playoffs. Clarkson averaged 8.6 points on 45.1% shooting (32.7% 3-point) over 17.8 minutes (72 games) in the regular season before shooting 45.5% from the field over 10.8 minutes in the playoffs (18 games).
Diawara is a restricted free agent after shooting 36.9% from deep on 1.9 average attempts as a rookie in the regular season. Ditto for Hukporti, who played 54 regular-season games and 10 playoff contests in his second pro season. Robinson and Hukporti are the backup and third-string centers, respectively.
Overall, New York can't re-sign all those players without going into the second apron. That means the front office will have to pick and choose who it wants the most.
