The New York Knicks just won a championship. That’s the good news. The bad news? Owner James Dolan might already be putting the brakes on a repeat run.
Dolan went on WFAN radio this week and made his position clear. He will not let the Knicks cross into the NBA’s second apron. That’s the punitive spending threshold designed to stop teams from stacking talent. He called going into the second apron “suicidal.” His exact words: “I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”
So here’s where it gets tricky. The Knicks already have about $210 million committed for next season. Eight players are under contract. They have the 24th pick in the draft, which comes with a guaranteed salary if they keep it. They also have a team option on Jose Alvarado worth $4.5 million.
That leaves them with roughly $13 million in cap space. They need to add four players. If they fill those spots with minimum deals, they can technically stay under the second apron. But that means saying goodbye to Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet.
Losing Robinson and Shamet Would Sting
Robinson was the Knicks’ defensive anchor and best offensive rebounder all season. He grabbed that clutch rebound off a missed free throw in Game 5 of the Finals that basically sealed the trophy. Shamet kept making big plays in the playoffs too. Those guys matter.
Robinson’s situation is especially risky. The Knicks own his full Bird rights, so they can re-sign him. But it would push them over the second apron, which is exactly what Dolan says he won’t do. And there are teams with cap space, like the Lakers, who need a center. It’s not hard to imagine Robinson getting an offer New York won’t match.
Shamet’s market is harder to read. He’ll probably get offers around $10 million a year. The Knicks could use the taxpayer mid-level exception, which is about $6 million per year for two seasons. That’s a pay cut for Shamet. And using that MLE would hard-cap the Knicks at the second apron anyway. No wiggle room at all.
Then there’s Mohamed Diawara, who’s in a spot similar to Isaiah Hartenstein last year. The Knicks don’t have his full Bird rights, meaning they can only offer him 120% of his previous salary. If another team offers him more than $5 million for next season, New York can’t match it.
What’s the Move Here?
Dolan might have to rethink his hard line on the second apron. Because the alternative is losing at least one impact player, maybe more. And that would waste a year of this core hitting their primes. That’s not smart for a team that just won it all.
The Knicks have a real window here. But windows close fast when owners won’t spend.
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