Con: Cost
If the New York Knicks were to renounce their cap holds, Phil Jackson would have a projected $19 million to work with in free agency. That’s a rather low number, if not unrealistic, as the Knicks are hoping to bring back the more promising of the young players on the roster.
Even if the Knicks had $19 million in cap space, that may be below the figure that Teague commands in free agency.
The meteoric rise in the salary cap enabled teams to offer massive contracts to marginal players during the summer of 2016. There are already a number of examples of buyer’s remorse, but Teague is a proven commodity who’s likely to be paid a fair amount.
Even if some may deem his potential contract an overpay, at this stage of his career, Teague has firmly established what he’s capable of providing.
If the Knicks were to luck out and get Teague for a figure in that range, that move would still leave it strapped for cash. Thus, re-signing players and adding depth would become a difficult process for the front office.
Any big-name free agent the Knicks pursue is going to command a rather significant salary, and Teague will be no exception to that reality.