Imagine if the new collective bargaining agreement has a provision where teams can pay off one contract without it counting for the cap. This scenario would clearly benefit other teams more than it would the Knicks.
Atlanta Hawks: Pachulia? Hinrich? Williams? Johnson?
Boston Celtics: J. O'Neal
Charlotte Bobcats: Diaw? Jackson?
Chicago Bulls: Deng? Korver? Watson? Bogans?
Cleveland Cavaliers: Baron Davis
Dallas Mavericks: Terry? Haywood? Brewer?
Denver Nuggets: Felton? Harrington? Anderson?
Detroit Pistons: Hamilton? Gordon? Maxiell?
Golden State Warriors: Bell
Houston Rockets: Thabeet
Indiana Pacers: Posey? George?
LA Clippers: Williams? Gomes?
LA Lakers: Artest? Walton? Gasol? Blake?
Memphis Grizzlies: Henry? Mayo? Gay?
Miami Heat: Haslem? Anthony? Miller?
Milwaukee Bucks: Maggette
Minnesota Timberwolves: Johnson? Flynn?
New Jersey Nets: Outlaw
New Orleans Hornets: Okafor? Ariza? Jack? Pondexter?
New York Knicks: see below
Oklahoma City Thunder: Nate
Orlando Magic: Arenas
Philadelphia Sixers: Nocioni? Turner?
Phoenix Suns: Carter? Childress? Frye?
Portland Trail Blazers: Roy
Sacramento Kings: Udrih? Garcia?
San Antonio Spurs: Jefferson? McDyess?
Toronto Raptors: Kleiza? Calderon?
Utah Jazz: Jefferson? Okur? Bell?
Washington Wizards: Lewis? Blatche? Seraphin?
If you were Knicks management would you be lobbying for another Alan Houston Rule, or would you try and block it? Are there any of those players listed above that you would particularly want to go after? I would want to kick the tires on Roy, Okafor, Felton, Turner, and Frye. At what price are Arenas, Artest, Carter, Thabeet, or Lewis worth going for?
Also, I forget, last time were the cut players aloud to re-sign with their teams?
And if you were the Knicks, would you:
- Cut Balkman because he's not good and his contract runs for another two years at $ 1.675 million each;
- Cut Billups because he is overpaid with next years $ 14.2 million contract:
- Cut Turiaf because he is overpaid at $4.2 million for one year: or,
- Cut Rautins because he doesn't get on the court.
Since the Knicks are over next years cap, cutting Billups wouldn't give them much extra room under the cap to sign others. Maybe Billups could be cut and then agree to re-sign a more cap friendly number. I wonder if he would be keen to go for the 14.2 + 2011-12 and 12-13 at four million piece. If he looks at this as a one year extension for 8 mil, maybe he would bite. Another option would be 3 years at 5 mil. If this couldn't happen I would cut Balkman. Thoughts?