Knicks · Knicks have the best FO in the league? (page 1)

martin @ 10/2/2024 2:51 PM
Discuss

martin @ 10/2/2024 2:51 PM

Lemme explain this in more depth for the cap nerds out there:

The Knicks are locked below the second apron this season. They've aggregated salaries through trade. So obviously, no second apron issues in 2024-25.

The Knicks are at $194.4 million in salaries owed for the 2025-26 season going to nine players. The projected 10% apron rise would take the second apron figure from $188.9 million this year to $207.8 million next year. Basically, that means the Knicks would have $13.4 million to fill those last five or six spots. Entirely doable. They can duck the second apron in the 2025-26 season.

This is the important detail: once you've gone above the second apron once, you're allowed to go above it one more time in the next four seasons without penalty. If you go above a second time in that four-year period (or, more simply, three out of five years) you have a first-round pick drop to No. 30 overall. That pick is the pick seven years out from the first year you went above the second apron. What this is probably going to mean in practice is that teams are going to try to a) delay their second apron clocks as long as possible and b) go above for two years and then duck below to avoid the draft penalty.

So basically, the Knicks would avoid the second-apron in 2024-25 and 2025-26. Then they would plan for 2026-27 and 2027-28 to be their above the second apron years. Not coincidentally, the 2026-27 season is when the Bridges extension would start. For all of this to work, the Knicks needed to trade for someone who would be cheap for the next two years. Bridges obviously qualifies.

And then, after the 2027-28 season, the roster basically hits a reset period. KAT expires. Hart has a team option for 27-28, so he either expires or he would've expired a year earlier. Brunson and Anunoby have player options. So by the summer of 2028, you'll have had the team together four years. You'll likely want to get below the second apron to avoid the draft penalty. However, you'll have so many contracts expiring that you'll have flexibility to maneuver and figure out who you need to prioritize keeping. Of course, by the summer of 2028, the entire Brunson/Hart/KAT/OG/Bridges core will be in its 30's, so a bunch can change by then.

Two people to watch here outside of that five-man core are Mitchell Robinson and Deuce McBride. Mitch has two years left. If they want to trade him, I'd say it's important to trade him for someone who either a) is at a similar salary level or b) isn't a free agent until 2026 or later. The last thing you want is to trade him for a 2025 free agent who you'd then have to overpay next summer. That could force you to start your second apron clock a year early. As for McBride, he's making peanuts these next three years. In 2027 he's gonna want to get paid. Doing so obviously creates post-2028 complications because the goal will be ducking the second apron then. Without knowing what kind of player he'll be in three years, though, we can't really say what sort of contract he'd be looking at.

So that is the long version of "the Knicks are really well-positioned financially." They can keep this team together for four years. That's an eternity in the modern NBA. They've obviously spent most of their maneuverability. They're not going to have very much room to make changes to this group. But if this team is good enough, it's going to have a long runway.

martin @ 10/2/2024 2:57 PM
DLeethal @ 10/2/2024 3:09 PM
Hard to argue with them being the most clever and intelligent FO in the league right now. From Leon and Wes' relationship/tampering abilities to Brock's cap wizardry. They just need a chip to get GOATed. Absolute masterclass of a tenure from Leon. Amazing how every little move had downstream implications. That seemingly insignificant draft night trade a couple years ago turned out to be one of the most meaningful trades in a generation for this franchise.

The 80% salary on Dadiet helps get the Towns deal done. Just crazy foresight. And just an example of Brock's wizardry and Wes/Leon's tampering abilities form quite a tandem.

martin @ 10/2/2024 3:11 PM
DLeethal wrote:Hard to argue with them being the most clever and intelligent FO in the league right now. From Leon and Wes' relationship/tampering abilities to Brock's cap wizardry. They just need a chip to get GOATed. Absolute masterclass of a tenure from Leon. Amazing how every little move had downstream implications. That seemingly insignificant draft night trade a couple years ago turned out to be one of the most meaningful trades in a generation for this franchise.

The 80% salary on Dadiet helps get the Towns deal done. Just crazy foresight. And just an example of Brock's wizardry and Wes/Leon's tampering abilities form quite a tandem.

Time to get GOATed. I like that

Knicksfan @ 10/2/2024 3:12 PM
martin wrote:

Lemme explain this in more depth for the cap nerds out there:

The Knicks are locked below the second apron this season. They've aggregated salaries through trade. So obviously, no second apron issues in 2024-25.

The Knicks are at $194.4 million in salaries owed for the 2025-26 season going to nine players. The projected 10% apron rise would take the second apron figure from $188.9 million this year to $207.8 million next year. Basically, that means the Knicks would have $13.4 million to fill those last five or six spots. Entirely doable. They can duck the second apron in the 2025-26 season.

This is the important detail: once you've gone above the second apron once, you're allowed to go above it one more time in the next four seasons without penalty. If you go above a second time in that four-year period (or, more simply, three out of five years) you have a first-round pick drop to No. 30 overall. That pick is the pick seven years out from the first year you went above the second apron. What this is probably going to mean in practice is that teams are going to try to a) delay their second apron clocks as long as possible and b) go above for two years and then duck below to avoid the draft penalty.

So basically, the Knicks would avoid the second-apron in 2024-25 and 2025-26. Then they would plan for 2026-27 and 2027-28 to be their above the second apron years. Not coincidentally, the 2026-27 season is when the Bridges extension would start. For all of this to work, the Knicks needed to trade for someone who would be cheap for the next two years. Bridges obviously qualifies.

And then, after the 2027-28 season, the roster basically hits a reset period. KAT expires. Hart has a team option for 27-28, so he either expires or he would've expired a year earlier. Brunson and Anunoby have player options. So by the summer of 2028, you'll have had the team together four years. You'll likely want to get below the second apron to avoid the draft penalty. However, you'll have so many contracts expiring that you'll have flexibility to maneuver and figure out who you need to prioritize keeping. Of course, by the summer of 2028, the entire Brunson/Hart/KAT/OG/Bridges core will be in its 30's, so a bunch can change by then.

Two people to watch here outside of that five-man core are Mitchell Robinson and Deuce McBride. Mitch has two years left. If they want to trade him, I'd say it's important to trade him for someone who either a) is at a similar salary level or b) isn't a free agent until 2026 or later. The last thing you want is to trade him for a 2025 free agent who you'd then have to overpay next summer. That could force you to start your second apron clock a year early. As for McBride, he's making peanuts these next three years. In 2027 he's gonna want to get paid. Doing so obviously creates post-2028 complications because the goal will be ducking the second apron then. Without knowing what kind of player he'll be in three years, though, we can't really say what sort of contract he'd be looking at.

So that is the long version of "the Knicks are really well-positioned financially." They can keep this team together for four years. That's an eternity in the modern NBA. They've obviously spent most of their maneuverability. They're not going to have very much room to make changes to this group. But if this team is good enough, it's going to have a long runway.

This takes you appreciation of the whole situation to a higher level. The way they are managing this, both for now and into the future, not only with huge contracts but also with fringe players and draft rights is just very impressive. We’ve come such a long way from the Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas’s years that it gives you goosebumps to realize that the Knicks are at present a top run organization.

Pretty soon, all the draft rights that we still have will make a big difference.

fishmike @ 10/2/2024 3:24 PM
what this FO has done is stuff of legends. No gimmies.. nothing easy. Brunson/KAT/Mikal/OG were all high cost to acquire and complicated in some way. Yet here we are with nice pieces to spare in Josh, Mitch, Deuce and Precious.

Its money ball meets field of dreams. Just fucking wild

EwingsGlass @ 10/2/2024 3:33 PM
fishmike wrote:what this FO has done is stuff of legends. No gimmies.. nothing easy. Brunson/KAT/Mikal/OG were all high cost to acquire and complicated in some way. Yet here we are with nice pieces to spare in Josh, Mitch, Deuce and Precious.

Its money ball meets field of dreams. Just fucking wild

They have the off court relationships working in tandem with the math and the basketball theory. It’s amazing to watch.

BigDaddyG @ 10/2/2024 4:14 PM
martin wrote:Discuss


This is what Silver gets for pursuing justice in the Raptors corporate espionage case. Suck it Silver!
GustavBahler @ 10/2/2024 4:21 PM
On paper they're one of the best. The FOs who have recently won a chip' have earned that title. Hopefully the Knicks will soon be on that short list!
martin @ 10/2/2024 4:29 PM
I mean, I've posted my proverbial selfie pic, you'll need to keep up. I did forget to include the glass of bourbon. Next time

martin wrote:Discuss

GustavBahler @ 10/2/2024 4:33 PM
martin wrote:I mean, I've posted my proverbial selfie pic, you'll need to keep up. I did forget to include the glass of bourbon. Next time

martin wrote:Discuss

Knicksfan @ 10/2/2024 4:36 PM
BigDaddyG wrote:
martin wrote:Discuss


This is what Silver gets for pursuing justice in the Raptors corporate espionage case. Suck it Silver!

Ha

martin @ 10/2/2024 4:51 PM
Knixkik @ 10/2/2024 5:32 PM
martin wrote:

Lemme explain this in more depth for the cap nerds out there:

The Knicks are locked below the second apron this season. They've aggregated salaries through trade. So obviously, no second apron issues in 2024-25.

The Knicks are at $194.4 million in salaries owed for the 2025-26 season going to nine players. The projected 10% apron rise would take the second apron figure from $188.9 million this year to $207.8 million next year. Basically, that means the Knicks would have $13.4 million to fill those last five or six spots. Entirely doable. They can duck the second apron in the 2025-26 season.

This is the important detail: once you've gone above the second apron once, you're allowed to go above it one more time in the next four seasons without penalty. If you go above a second time in that four-year period (or, more simply, three out of five years) you have a first-round pick drop to No. 30 overall. That pick is the pick seven years out from the first year you went above the second apron. What this is probably going to mean in practice is that teams are going to try to a) delay their second apron clocks as long as possible and b) go above for two years and then duck below to avoid the draft penalty.

So basically, the Knicks would avoid the second-apron in 2024-25 and 2025-26. Then they would plan for 2026-27 and 2027-28 to be their above the second apron years. Not coincidentally, the 2026-27 season is when the Bridges extension would start. For all of this to work, the Knicks needed to trade for someone who would be cheap for the next two years. Bridges obviously qualifies.

And then, after the 2027-28 season, the roster basically hits a reset period. KAT expires. Hart has a team option for 27-28, so he either expires or he would've expired a year earlier. Brunson and Anunoby have player options. So by the summer of 2028, you'll have had the team together four years. You'll likely want to get below the second apron to avoid the draft penalty. However, you'll have so many contracts expiring that you'll have flexibility to maneuver and figure out who you need to prioritize keeping. Of course, by the summer of 2028, the entire Brunson/Hart/KAT/OG/Bridges core will be in its 30's, so a bunch can change by then.

Two people to watch here outside of that five-man core are Mitchell Robinson and Deuce McBride. Mitch has two years left. If they want to trade him, I'd say it's important to trade him for someone who either a) is at a similar salary level or b) isn't a free agent until 2026 or later. The last thing you want is to trade him for a 2025 free agent who you'd then have to overpay next summer. That could force you to start your second apron clock a year early. As for McBride, he's making peanuts these next three years. In 2027 he's gonna want to get paid. Doing so obviously creates post-2028 complications because the goal will be ducking the second apron then. Without knowing what kind of player he'll be in three years, though, we can't really say what sort of contract he'd be looking at.

So that is the long version of "the Knicks are really well-positioned financially." They can keep this team together for four years. That's an eternity in the modern NBA. They've obviously spent most of their maneuverability. They're not going to have very much room to make changes to this group. But if this team is good enough, it's going to have a long runway.

It’s so important to establish a core group and the Knicks have done that. 4 out of the 5 most important players are CAA and have prior relationship with the front office in some way. The 5th is bridges who is a Nova guy. They literally got everyone they wanted, outside of Mitchell, and built the team around guys they have prioritized in some capacity since the beginning of this era. Now, they have a 4 year runway to build up the chemistry and have multiple years in case of injury. They have hit it out of the park with the vision, and the ability to execute around the margins to carry out that vision have made them arguably the best front office in the league. The front office, coaching staff and roster are all connected and that’s how you build the ideal situation. Easily top 3 front office.

Chandler @ 10/2/2024 7:03 PM
It’s like they nailed the fabled iron lotus in figure skating (not smart or young enough To post a video)
BigDaddyG @ 10/2/2024 7:13 PM
Chandler wrote:It’s like they nailed the fabled iron lotus in figure skating (not smart or young enough To post a video)

Alpha1971 @ 10/2/2024 9:09 PM
You know team won't have a first next year and maybe two years but we still can bring in Rokas and the new center from Charlotte, James Njai. So we will have one or two possible new young players to add to the roster next year. Pretty smart of the front office
martin @ 10/2/2024 9:12 PM
Alpha1971 wrote:You know team won't have a first next year and maybe two years but we still can bring in Rokas and the new center from Charlotte, James Njai. So we will have one or two possible new young players to add to the roster next year. Pretty smart of the front office

And you know they would rather Dadiet marinate for a year or so too.

martin @ 10/2/2024 9:14 PM
Good call

martin @ 10/2/2024 9:25 PM
Probably

Page 1 of 2
Back to Knicks Forum
2025 © UltimateKnicks.com