After waiving Matt Ryan and signing Landry Shamet, the Knicks are operating approximately $535K below their hard cap for the 2024/25 season.
Ryan will count toward the cap for $621,439 in dead money, while Shamet’s new cap hit is $1,343,690, though he’ll technically earn $1,682,008 if he remains under contract beyond January 7 on his minimum-salary deal (or if it’s already fully guaranteed, which has not been confirmed).
Due to that small gap between their team salary and the second tax apron, New York will be unable to fill their 15th roster spot until later in the season, once the prorated veteran’s minimum dips low enough to fit below the hard cap.
Their cap situation could change if they continue to swap players in and out of that 14th spot, if they sign anyone to a 10-day contract, or if they make an in-season trade. But based on their current team salary, the Knicks would be able to add a veteran as a 15th man as of March 1, when the cap hit for a prorated minimum deal would be $527,878.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Good injury luck – along with an aversion to load management – has allowed the Knicks to establish cohesion with their new-look starting lineup, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. The team’s five starters have missed a total of just three games (two for Karl-Anthony Towns and one for Josh Hart) and the group has played a league-leading 459 minutes together, posting a +7.0 net rating. Only two other five-man lineups around the NBA have logged more than 250 minutes so far this season.
- While the Knicks were in New Orleans over the weekend for a game against the Pelicans, Hart credited his former head coach Willie Green for “changing the trajectory” of his career. Hart was a Pelican when Green took over as the team’s coach in 2021. “He was my third coach in three years,” Hart said, according to Bondy. “Coming off Stan (Van Gundy), where I probably had one of the worst years of my career. And Willie just kind of believed in me. I didn’t want to come back (to New Orleans), but I talked to him and we got on the same page at the beginning of that year. … He trusted in me as a player, but more so as a person. And that really gained my confidence. … He changed things for me.”
- The Knicks raised eyebrows over the offseason when they re-signed OG Anunoby to a five-year deal worth $212.5MM, the most total guaranteed money any team committed to a free agent in 2024. But Anunoby is rewarding the team’s belief in him so far — he hasn’t missed a game this season, has increased his scoring averaged to 16.6 points per game, and – as Steve Popper of Newsday writes – has continued to play his usual form of lock-down defense. “I know OG puts a lot of guys in jail,” Hart said on Saturday. “He’s someone we’re good with putting him on the island with whoever, big or small, and he’s going to change shots. I don’t understand how he does half of it. … He’s a monster to a defense all by himself and he should be a first-team or second-team All-Defense for sure. We’re comfortable with that matchup against him and anybody.”
“Coming off Stan (Van Gundy), where I probably had one of the worst years of my career. And Willie just kind of believed in me”
The Van Gundy bros have been a net negative to the NBA’s history, overall. Failsons failing upwards into better jobs they did not deserve (much like Kerr).
I was Skeptical of the OG trade giving up both IQ and RJ but OG truly has made a difference. Let’s go Knicks!!!!
Don’t forget Precious …..
It was a win win trade. Loved OG in Toronto, but love the new guys too. RJs a beast!
Knicks just needed time to jell. Not happy about leading the L in mins. I believe all NBA teams should go ten deep. Unfortunately winning puts too much pressure on coaches. Good to get Landry back. Unfortunately it’s wait and see with Mitch. He’s been pushed back to February now. Too close to TD.
What I’m most pleased with. Is Knicks getting their team D in order. Team D is now in middle of group. Like to see at least top 10 by playoffs.
Yes of course and Precious. I’m glad he’s back took him most of the summer to return. I was getting nervous.
I do worry about the lack of load management. Thibs has always operated that way. Too many players broke down towards the end of the season and the playoffs. At some point, he’s going to have to relent and give guys in the starting lineup reduced minutes or nights off. They all play physical, so small injuries are bound to occur. If they can stay healthy and get Mitch back healthy they’ve got championship potential.
Hopefully with everyone back, Mitch. He will go ten deep on his bench.
rct —-
OG 29 pts and lock down D. You see ………
That’s what’s called a 2Way player. With Precious Knicks are good.
RJ is avg 28 in hm gms. Raptors got two young starters.
Considering Raptors didn’t want to pay OG. And Knicks didn’t want to pay IQ. I’d say they both did well. LIS1sttime.