Ever since Knicks team owner James Dolan declared that the team cannot go into the second apron on WFAN’s Carton Show earlier in June, every move the club has made so far has hinted at going down that path.
This week’s NBA Draft saw the Knicks trade out of the first round — and a guaranteed contract — and step down to the second round, where they continued to move back.
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Originally armed with the 24, 31 and 55 in the draft, New York ended up collecting a boatload of second round picks in future drafts and selecting 39th and 47th overall, for players that will be on cheaper minimum deals or two-way contracts.
That series of moves hints at the Knicks trying to duck the second apron.
As free agency rapidly approaches this upcoming week, the Knicks should re-think the strategy. It will likely cause them to lose Mitchell Robinson and/or Landry Shamet in free agency, which could have an extremely negative impact on their chances of successfully defending the NBA championship next season.
Key cogs
Robinson and Shamet were vital contributors to the Knicks’ championship run. Both players’ performances were reflective of a Knicks roster that had depth where its bench filled in the gaps around New York’s stars.
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If the Knicks lose Robinson, it will be nearly impossible to replace him.
The seven-footer has been with the Knicks since he was drafted by the club in the second round in 2018. Robinson is a unique player. He’s been one of the top offensive rebounders in the NBA over the last several years. His work on the offensive glass has won playoff games for the Knicks.
In the championship clincher against the San Antonio Spurs, six of Robinson’s 10 rebounds came on the offensive end, this included an offensive board on a missed free-throw that pretty much sealed the title.
Shamet was a reliable two-way guard. On a minimum contract, he played credible defense, and was an effective outside threat, knocking down 47.5 percent of his three-point attempts during the postseason. Shamet was another perimeter option New York could go to if Mikal Bridges or Josh Hart had quiet nights.
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There were several games where Shamet closed in the fourth quarters of important games.
Robinson seems like the most likely casualty. Several teams in need of centers can offer the non-tax midlevel exception of about $15 million. If the Knicks stay under the second apron, they won’t be able to compete with those offers.
There’s not many players the Knicks would be able to find on the cheap to replace Robinson or Shamet that would also be able to replicate their value.
It makes sense for the Knicks to be concerned about the second apron, the penalties to team building are stark.
Teams in the second apron lose access to the taxpayer midlevel exception, can’t aggregate multiple salaries to acquire larger-salaried players, and can’t use cash in trades, among other restrictions. Then, there are the hefty luxury tax payments. But going into the second apron for one or two years would be worth it, if it gives the Knicks a chance to contend for more championships.
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The numbers
Going forward, staying under the second apron will be a challenge. New York has been active in the offseason already, agreeing to multi-year deals to re-sign Mohamed Diawara and Jose Alvarado. The 2026-27 salary figures on the agreements aren’t clear, but the Knicks are not too far from the $222 million second apron threshold.
Ducking the apron is a problem that won’t go away after the new season. New York’s starting lineup is set to make just under a combined $192 million for the 2026-27 season. Depending on potential contract extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart in the near future, that group can still become even more expensive.
As that figure is just about $30 million away from the second apron, the Knicks will likely have to think about re-orienting the pay allocation around the starting lineup. But that’s something that can wait.
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The Knicks have a real chance to repeat going into next season, so dealing with the financial constraints for one or two more years is worth it. New York had not won a championship in the last 53 years. So, realizing this moment, where the Knicks have a real chance to compete for a championship again, is imperative.
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