League memo projects $92 million salary cap, $111 luxury tax amounts
By Joe Flynn on Apr 15, 2016, 10:22p

Back in February Zach Lowe reported that teams were using an estimate of $92 million for next season's salary cap instead of the initial $89 million projection. With the summer free agency period rapidly approaching, we now know both the salary cap and luxury tax amounts, per USA Today:

The projected salary cap and luxury tax amounts for the 2016-17 NBA season will be $92 million and $111 million, according to a league memo sent to team executives, and those figures were relayed to USA TODAY Sports by multiple people.

Right now the Knicks are projected to have $68.7 million on the 2016-17 cap, including player options for Arron Afflalo ($8 million) and Derrick Williams ($5.1 million). Assuming they opt out -- and it's like 99% assured that both of them opt out -- the Knicks will be $55.6 million, leaving $36.4 million to play with. The $111-million luxury tax probably won't come into play, unless the Knicks pull off some big trade for a player with full Bird rights. Langston Galloway and Lance Thomas have Early Bird rights, which means the Knicks could go over the cap to sign each player at 175% of the league-average salary.

This article also contained the cap estimates through 2021, but with the Collective Bargaining Agreement opt-out deadline coming Dec. 15 of this year, we shouldn't pay too much attention to any cap numbers beyond this summer.

But let's hope that's only, say, $30 million . . . and we keep Derrick Williams.

Then Hernangomez also gets some of it -- 3 or 4 million (?)

What's left is enough to get someone useful.

A big name is probably not what we should hope for.

Who out there would qualify as the "Robin Lopez of shooting guards" (?)

That's what we should hope Jackson can pull off . . .

Malcolm wrote:Okay . . . $36 million to play with.

But let's hope that's only, say, $30 million . . . and we keep Derrick Williams.

Then Hernangomez also gets some of it -- 3 or 4 million (?)

What's left is enough to get someone useful.

A big name is probably not what we should hope for.

Who out there would qualify as the "Robin Lopez of shooting guards" (?)

That's what we should hope Jackson can pull off . . .

Gasol--2 years 21 mm
Bazemore 4 years 50mm
Curry 4 years 34mm

Would be nice to get Batum but again think he is staying in Charlotte and Phil not known to throw max money around. Other names I like if we can get them fairly cheap are:
David Lee - Good post guy.
Noah- Defense and vocal leader.
Bazemore- Good all around young player, hustle guy.
Gerald Green- Had good years in Phoenix, athletic.

Seems even a better situation than last year. Better more marketable team with Melo/KP/RoLo. More wins (32>17). Now more money to offer.

I'm a little excited. Won't really get to that point until Afflalo actually opts out.

earthmansurfer wrote:I'd like to see us get Batum. If we get some solid guys and Melo stays, I am not sure we can still win anything.
If we trade Melo and get picks, that is a crap shoot as well.
At least we have some cap room. Which we will need for Hernangomez and Williams as well.

Williams would be an idiot to opt out, his stats are well below avg, and he he may only secure a similar contract like he got this season.

If he opts in this yr, now that his role would be define from the jump, he may put up much better numbers, and have a chance to solidify his future with a bigger pay day for the 2016/17 season. If im his agent, that's what im telling him. DONT BE DUMB LIKE JR, and start tooting your own horn because you had a few good games.

Bonn1997 wrote:

nixluva wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:Hopefully, like last year the cap will be a few million more but NY's cap space is not really the issue, it's the FA class, league wide cap flexability, and NYs lack of attractiveness that are issues.

The results of the Playoffs could really create some opportunities for the Knicks. Failure in the Playoffs has a way of making guys sour on their current situation. That could happen and maybe shake a few guys loose from their teams even tho they had a better record than NY. We'll see.

It might also be a year when the Knicks just go hard after young up and coming Restricted Free Agents. The Cap going up kind of works against the Knicks this time but they might have to be creative and aggressive. Unless Phil is fine with only minor moves and standing down until the 2017 Free Agent Market.

Failing in the playoffs is going to make them so sour on their current situation that they'd rather go to the 7th worst team in the league?

I know it seems counter intuitive but I think a player could be convinced that things would get significantly better in NY if they joined KP, MELO and RoLo. This is where the selling of the plan comes in. KP is going to get better! We have a very good Frontcourt and Role players. The issue is not enough talent in the starting Backcourt.

Even one good guard can have a huge impact. Take Isaiah Thomas or Kyle Lowry away from their teams and see how much it effects them. The right player added to the Knicks starting lineup could have a huge impact.

foosballnick wrote:
Serious question - if you are running the Knicks, does spending $30 Million annually on these 3 Guys build on a Championship type core? Consider that the Salary Cap will rise to the $110 Million range in 2017 and the Knicks hit will be $50 Million in that same year and the available FA crop in 2017 is potentially one of the best in history with Westbrook, Curry and CP3 leading the pack.

Knicks fans, Melo and media will not have the stamina to endure another 30 Win Season.....however if the team is really looking to elevate their roster they do not tie up significant cap space this year on question marks or older guys.

Here are my options....

A) Dreamer Scenario that has about 0.01 % Chance of ever happening - LBJ opts out and wants to create the Core 4 in NY. Knicks throw Max at him this year and then sign CP3 next year. Wade re-signs with Miami this year on a flexible deal with Player Option and Opts out - signs with Knicks next year on moderate deal. NEVER HAPPENING - BUT ONE CAN DREAM

B) Durant wants to play alongside his idol Scenario - perhaps a 5% chance of happening - Durant grew up a huge fan of Melo and decides to sign with the Knicks this year on a Max Deal. This is a total starphuck deal that has LITTLE CHANCE OF HAPPENING as Durant is a cult hero to the fanbase and community of OKC.

C) Wait it out Scenario - retain cap flexibility this year as a bridge into 2017 Cap Boon. Win about 30 Games/miss the playoffs - get a top 8 First Round pick for 2017. Build a core around KP6, First Rounder, Lopez and the Free agents acquired. Have between $50 - $60 in cap space to sign up to two Max Guys. Note that Melo will likely not have the stamina to endure this Scenario given his biological clock so cap space may be higher if he is traded. Even though this may seem like a viable option......the chance of this happening remains small because.......

D) Cave to immediate pressure of playing in NY Scenario - Use maximum cap space this year to sign unproven, risky or older players for more then they are worth. This includes using the stretch provision on Calderon to save $3.85 million in cap space this year but cost $3.85 against the cap next year in a better FA class. Win between 37-45 Games next year - have a middling draft pick and about $15 million in available cap space (including the hit for Calderon's stretch) which is perhaps enough to sign one middling FA. IMO this scenario is the path that will likely be taken and unfortunately will lead to a string of 35-45 Win seasons for at least a 5 year period. This is why I would take a risk and choose option C if the starphuck options A & B are not available.

i chose option C - with the only change being id wait it out until 2018. why? Everyone and their mama will have money this summer and next. in these types of scenarios the knicks cant compete with other teams who: are better, have no state tax, have better systems etc. Instead y waiting until 2018, when the cap levels off - then you can compete for free agents because some teams will have and others WONT have money

foosballnick wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

Malcolm wrote:Okay . . . $36 million to play with.

But let's hope that's only, say, $30 million . . . and we keep Derrick Williams.

Then Hernangomez also gets some of it -- 3 or 4 million (?)

What's left is enough to get someone useful.

A big name is probably not what we should hope for.

Who out there would qualify as the "Robin Lopez of shooting guards" (?)

That's what we should hope Jackson can pull off . . .

Gasol--2 years 21 mm
Bazemore 4 years 50mm
Curry 4 years 34mm

Serious question - if you are running the Knicks, does spending $30 Million annually on these 3 Guys build on a Championship type core? Consider that the Salary Cap will rise to the $110 Million range in 2017 and the Knicks hit will be $50 Million in that same year and the available FA crop in 2017 is potentially one of the best in history with Westbrook, Curry and CP3 leading the pack.

Knicks fans, Melo and media will not have the stamina to endure another 30 Win Season.....however if the team is really looking to elevate their roster they do not tie up significant cap space this year on question marks or older guys.

Here are my options....

A) Dreamer Scenario that has about 0.01 % Chance of ever happening - LBJ opts out and wants to create the Core 4 in NY. Knicks throw Max at him this year and then sign CP3 next year. Wade re-signs with Miami this year on a flexible deal with Player Option and Opts out - signs with Knicks next year on moderate deal. NEVER HAPPENING - BUT ONE CAN DREAM

B) Durant wants to play alongside his idol Scenario - perhaps a 5% chance of happening - Durant grew up a huge fan of Melo and decides to sign with the Knicks this year on a Max Deal. This is a total starphuck deal that has LITTLE CHANCE OF HAPPENING as Durant is a cult hero to the fanbase and community of OKC.

C) Wait it out Scenario - retain cap flexibility this year as a bridge into 2017 Cap Boon. Win about 30 Games/miss the playoffs - get a top 8 First Round pick for 2017. Build a core around KP6, First Rounder, Lopez and the Free agents acquired. Have between $50 - $60 in cap space to sign up to two Max Guys. Note that Melo will likely not have the stamina to endure this Scenario given his biological clock so cap space may be higher if he is traded. Even though this may seem like a viable option......the chance of this happening remains small because.......

D) Cave to immediate pressure of playing in NY Scenario - Use maximum cap space this year to sign unproven, risky or older players for more then they are worth. This includes using the stretch provision on Calderon to save $3.85 million in cap space this year but cost $3.85 against the cap next year in a better FA class. Win between 37-45 Games next year - have a middling draft pick and about $15 million in available cap space (including the hit for Calderon's stretch) which is perhaps enough to sign one middling FA. IMO this scenario is the path that will likely be taken and unfortunately will lead to a string of 35-45 Win seasons for at least a 5 year period. This is why I would take a risk and choose option C if the starphuck options A & B are not available.

For option C a move that could be made to buy time is to eat Derek Rose expiring contract from Chi. Gives Phil a big name to appease the masses yet still maintains the cap flexibility for the next yr. The downside is risking continuity. The upside is Rose in a contract yr comes in with something to prove and has a great season.

Would Chi be willing to give him up to free up his 21mil giving them 37mil instead of 16mil in cap space? Or are they going to want assets back as well?

callmened wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:Hopefully, like last year the cap will be a few million more but NY's cap space is not really the issue, it's the FA class, league wide cap flexability, and NYs lack of attractiveness that are issues.

this guy hit it EXACTLY on the head!!!

doesnt matter if we have about $35 mill (which will be NOTHING in the new cap), its the fact that the whole WORLD have even more cap space to offer. the sixers have 70 mill to offer and spend. Will a mediocre player like jennings or bazemore want to come to nyc for 12 mill? or 16 mill in philly. other team's cap space will inflate the cost of these players

We will find out if they can make the case to FA's that the Knicks are a team on the rise and playing here with KP over the next 4 years is a good look. Don't solely focus on the W/L record. Players know who the next star players are likely to be. KAT and KP are two of the best young studs.

Phil has to make the case that this team is a great landing spot for the next 4 years. Great fan base and MSG is a great arena to star in. It's not the strongest scenario but it's better than Philly for more money IMO.