As free agency in the NBA gets underway, the New York Knicks are dealing with the dilemma of how to fortify their roster. We take a look at their available cap space, and how they can work with the existing salary cap aprons to build on their playoff season momentum next year as they eye key free agents.
Knicks Have Narrow Payroll Room, Eye Veteran Minimums To Woo Free Agents
On Monday, free agency officially got underway in the NBA as teams could announce agreements with players as well as trades. Multiple teams began working the phones, including the New York Knicks who are looking to fortify a team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
So far, according to Sports New York’s Ian Begley in a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Knicks have the $5 million taxpayer exception and the veteran’s minimum exception to offer free agents such as Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook.
There will be mutual interest between veteran guard Russell Westbrook and the Knicks when free agency opens, as Knicks are one of several teams who will have interest in Westbrook, league sources say. Knicks currently have the $5M tax-payer exception and the veteran’s minimum…
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 30, 2025
NBA salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan broke down the Knicks’ situation on his Third Apron website on June 13, praising their moves (including point guard Jalen Brunson signing a team-friendly extension) but noting that they’re in the same scenario as they were last year by being over the first apron, which is set at $194 million.
In that scenario, teams cannot acquire a player in a sign-and-trade, use more than 100% of the trader player exemption or use a pre-existing trade exception.
The New York Knicks salary cap and apron situations after picking up Ariel Hukporti and declining P.J. Tucker.
Assuming they keep all of their top 6 players, they’ll have enough room below the second apron to sign a player with the $5.7 million tax mid-level. pic.twitter.com/Y72GayKrVG
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 29, 2025
On his CapSheets website, he gave a more detailed breakdown. The Knicks have ten players currently signed on their roster for the 2025-2026 season. While they’re over the first apron by a total of $365,223, they’ve got second apron space amounting to $11,513,777. The team’s lone free agent is guard Landry Shamet, and they recently inked
center Ariel Hukporti to a one-year deal while declining a player option for forward P.J. Tucker.
ESPN’s NBA analyst Bobby Marks highlighted how center Mitchell Robinson and guard Mikal Bridges are eligible for four-year extensions this summer. He noted that the trade market might not be a reasonable path for New York unless they were willing to part with either Robinson or Bridges, or go big and trade one of their starters as 93% of their payroll is tied up in the contracts of Brunson, center Karl-Anthony Towns, guard Josh Hart, and forward/guard O.G. Anunoby.
It hasn’t prevented the Knicks from attracting interest from veteran free agents, however.
In addition to Westbrook, guard Jordan Clarkson is reportedly expressing a desire to join New York after his contract buyout from the Utah Jazz is finalized. Other players that Marks mentioned that the Knicks could pursue include Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Gary Trent Jr., Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard, and New Orleans Pelicans forward Keion Brooks.
The Knicks are looking to capitalize on a torrid playoff run that saw them dethrone the defending NBA champions in the Boston Celtics before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Another element playing a factor is the team’s search for a new head coach after their dismissal of Tom Thibodeau shortly after that playoff exit. All eyes will be on Leon Rose and what moves he might be able to make as the week unfolds.
