wargames wrote:I think we get that space if we stretch Lee as well...... Considering he is a legit good player, the knicks would be wise to trade him for either a crappy expiring or a worse player on a similar contract (with at least a 2nd or two attached) to make the stretching of a contract make better sense.Basically we can still sign up to 17 mil in cap space this year, and if KP accepts his QA they can then waive everyone and have 33 mil in cap space, Then afterward they can negotiate a Max contract for KP after using that 33 mil on a Max contract.
He will be easy to move via trade. As long as we aren't expecting any real value back for him, just a strict salary dump for a comparable contract that expires next season, he should be moveable. Examples would be to Minn for Aldrich's contract or to Denver for Faried's contract.
After that, we will only have Porzingis (who i still expect them to extend this summer even though it will cost more), Hardaway, Ntilikina, and 2018 pick long-term. Noah will be stretched (maybe wait until after next season to save more money) and Thomas only has 1 mil guaranteed after next season. So between Noah and Thomas, we should have something along the lines of 6 mil in dead money on the books. Should give us plenty of flexibility in summer 2019.