martin wrote:your baseline assumption is that you HAVE to have cap space to make upgrades?
No.
My baseline assumption is having cap space is one of the main three ways to make upgrades, the others being trades and draft.
In less than 17 months, two of those avenues will be closed to the Knicks, at least in terms of adding a main cog. Cap space will be closed entirely for any purpose.
I also contend in 17 months, Chandler and Gallinari's "asset" values will be compromised. They are at their peak value when on rookie contracts.
Each, in the next 17 months, will get contracts based on projection and potential rather than current production, and for them to continue to be trade assets of maximum value, their trajectory as players must continue to rise.
This could happen. I'm no pessimist. But it is uncertain and in fact, the odds against, purely objectively speaking.
In the next 17 months, the Knicks chances of building a roster to compete with the big 4 you mention will be very dependent on ALL of Gallo, Chandler, Fields and Mosgov moving in positive directions, as well as Felton showing the last 2 months isn't really him, because he has NOT been very good, if we're being honest.