While one Knicks center weighs whether or not to decline his player option, it sounds like another has already made up his mind to opt out. A source tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News that Kyle O’Quinn, who faces a player option decision this offseason, has been asking for approximately $30MM in guaranteed money on his next contract.
[RELATED: Enes Kanter leaning toward declining player option?]
Teammate Enes Kanter was the Knicks’ most productive center, but O’Quinn was a reliable backup, appearing in 77 games (18.0 MPG) and establishing new career highs in PPG (7.1), RPG (6.1), and FG% (.582), among other categories.
O’Quinn almost certainly wouldn’t land as significant a contract as Kanter on the open market, but his player option is worth a modest $4.26MM compared to Kanter’s $18.62MM. That makes it an easier decision to opt out and seek a multiyear deal in free agency.
Although O’Quinn may be looking for a $30MM contract for now, that number could change by the time he actually reaches free agency in July. As Bondy observes, that price tag would be “far too much for a career backup on a losing team.” In a market like 2016’s, when centers like Bismack Biyombo, Ian Mahinmi, and Timofey Mozgov signed mega-deals worth over $60MM apiece, a $30MM contract for O’Quinn would look much more reasonable, but teams are expected to be tighter with their money during the 2018 offseason.
According to Basketball Insiders’ data on O’Quinn’s contract, his option decision is due seven days after the Knicks’ final game of 2017/18, so we should hear official word soon on his opt-out.
5 year $30 million, or 6 year $30 million doesn’t sound to unreasonable for a guy who got better this year
Five would be the most the Knicks could offer, though I imagine O’Quinn’s probably thinking more like three or four.
Ya but doubt he gets more than 7, maybe 8 a year. 7 for 28 wouldn’t be bad n he would prob take it especially if Kanter leaves
i feel like he should be compared to cristiano felicio in terms of contracts
??? Not equal talent, so why an equal contract?
Only the Knicks could offer five years, every other team can only offer four. 5/30 doesn’t sound bad, but that’s too long of a contract to commit to a role player on a bad team. I’d be highly surprised if he gets roughly $30m over the length of his next contract. This is a bad year to be a free agent as not many teams have a significant amount of cap space. If I remember correctly, only 6-7 teams are projected to have over $10m in cap space. I doubt one of those teams will compromise that space for 3-4 years for a guy whose ceiling is that of a rotational big.
Hey competent backups are probably going for 2at $8-10/ so I would go $8/ for 4 years or $10/ for 3 years. But only if Kanter opts out.
Kanter is a no brainer, unless he prices himself out of the market (which he won’t do). Because they traded WH, they almost have to sign KO as well if the prices is reasonable. They have NO cap space, just Bird rights to their own guys. If they accept market or below salaries, you sign them. Unless you think Luke Kornet can be a rotation player when it counts (and not against teams trying to lose).
Kornet has the potential to be a solid find. Yea he’s raw but a better coaching staff should be able to develop his skills as well with Ntilikina, Dotson, Williams, and Hicks. I’d like for Wright but that’s a pipe dream. I think Stackhouse could be a good fit. G league championship and a return to G league finals, sounds promising. And I’d be shocked, stunned if Jeff Van Gundy returns.
Do we even have matching rights on Kornet or Hicks? They got a second year (non-guaranteed) on Burke and Williams, so with Dotson, there are at least a few guys who can be developed. Yes, no JVG, we need a developmental coach, who doesn’t care about his W-L record. Without Kornet and Hicks, they have 10 guys under contract, and 3 more with player options (Baker is a lock to make it 11). Draft pick makes it 12, and 13 if they sign the 2nd rounder. So, not much room and no cap space, but can use 9 mm mid-level.