Knicks hoping for bargains as free agency begins
Mikal Bridges of the Knicks warms up prior to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 29. Credit: Getty Images/Al Bello
The Knicks made their way through the NBA Draft and head into the start of free agency Monday evening with no head coach, but still trying to tweak the roster to fill in the gaps that await whoever accepts the job and challenge.
Unlike some years when the Knicks had cap space and were chasing stars, the salaries that match the performance of the starting five have limited the franchise to searching for bargains this time.
And maybe that’s not a bad thing. Although the firing of coach Tom Thibodeau will read as an overreaction until the front office and ownership settle on a new coach who can exceed what Thibodeau brought to the team, pointing the finger at the coach might signal that the front office believes the roster can do more.
“There were times when we sort of have reached for that shiny, sparkly object,” MSG chairman James Dolan said in March when he appeared on The Roommates Show podcast. “Maybe this is what we need. Especially when things weren’t going well. Let’s bring in this guy and maybe he’ll turn it all around for us. Sometimes it’s players. Sometimes it’s a coach.
“What I learned over time is that doesn’t work. It really doesn’t. You really have to do the fundamentals, the basics. You’ve got to build a team. You’ve got to build an organization. There is no waving a wand over a team and all of a sudden make it a great team. It doesn’t happen.”
When the Knicks let Thibodeau go just days after the season ended in the Eastern Conference finals, a level the franchise had not reached in 25 years, team president Leon Rose said in a statement, “Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans.”
The Knicks cleared a slight bit of cap space Sunday by declining the $3.4 million team option on P.J. Tucker. They did exercise the team option on Ariel Hukporti worth approximately $2 million, putting their salary at approximately $196.2 million entering free agency. The Knicks also extended a qualifying offer to Kevin McCullar.
With the moves, the Knicks are about $11 million below the second apron and just $365,223 above the first apron.
So how can they fill in the blanks on the roster now? By finding bargains on the free-agent market, unless they can maneuver a trade to clear cap room. That would mean a drastic move. They could deal Mikal Bridges and his $24.9 million salary if they decide they don’t want to give him the contract extension for which he is eligible. The extension tops out at four years and $156 million. Or they could deal Mitchell Robinson and his expiring $12.9 million salary.
If they don’t do that, with 10 players currently locked in on the roster, they have the $5.7 million midlevel exception to use and veteran minimum contracts.
If the Knicks keep the top seven on the roster in place, the starters plus Robinson and Deuce McBride, the work is filling in the bench depth.
It was a point of contention that the front office used against Thibodeau, with some maintaining that the Knicks did not utilize the entire roster. The counter was that the roster included four rookies who were not ready to be regular contributors, and one of the veterans expected to be a key part of the rotation, Landry Shamet, spent much of the year rehabilitating from a shoulder injury.
With a thin market for talent in the Knicks’ price range, Shamet could return. The Knicks could try to recruit veteran minimum deals with the promise of showcasing their talents on a championship-contending team. That could mean players such as Luke Kennard, who is a career 43.8% shooter from beyond the arc, or Ty Jerome, who emerged as a key player much of the season for Cleveland and shot 43.9% from three-point range before losing time in the playoffs.
Other names to keep an eye on include Bruce Brown, whom the Knicks courted two summers ago, Gary Harris and even Chris Duarte at guard. Chris Boucher, the 6-10 free agent from Toronto, could fit, and the Knicks might have interest in Al Horford if Boston doesn’t bring him back.
“We’re kind of there. [Karl-Anthony Towns] was sort of the last piece,” Dolan said on the podcast. “I’m not expecting any significant changes. Now it’s all up to these guys, the coach, to make it happen.I don’t know. Do you think we’re missing any pieces? . . . It feels like it’s kind of a puzzle, where you change one piece, it changes all the other pieces. We’ve got to figure all that out, figure it out on the court.”
Knicks potential targets
Bruce Brown: The Knicks courted him two years ago, but the Pacers blew the competition away with a huge offer (and the Knicks settled for Donte DiVincenzo with no regrets). The do-it-all versatile Brown recovered his form after landing in New Orleans in midseason.
Ty Jerome: Might be priced out of the Knicks range, but he flourished for much of the season in Cleveland and is a tough guard with size and shot 43.9% from three last year.
Luke Kennard: Another sharpshooter who could push outside of their price range, but with a clear need it might be a chance for Kennard to play for a contending team and earn his next contract.
Chris Duarte: He has struggled to find his form after a solid rookie campaign but the Knicks liked him coming out of college and he has family connections in CAA (Sam Rose client). Could be worth a low-cost flier for 6-6 defensive worker who did average 13.1 ppg as a rookie.
Gary Harris: With 11 years in the NBA he’s still just 30 years old, but played lowest minutes per game since his rookie season.