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New York Knicks: 5 reasons to love the trade for Doug McDermott

By Maxwell Ogden

TORONTO, ONTARIO - March 16: Doug McDermott #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks to pass the ball against the Toronto Raptors on March 16, 2017 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - March 16: Doug McDermott #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks to pass the ball against the Toronto Raptors on March 16, 2017 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – FEBRUARY 14: Doug McDermott #11 of the Chicago Bulls goes up for a lay up against the Toronto Raptors on February 14, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – FEBRUARY 14: Doug McDermott #11 of the Chicago Bulls goes up for a lay up against the Toronto Raptors on February 14, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Restricted Free Agency

The beauty of restricted free agency for an NBA organization is that it can match any offer a player receives. That’s an advantage the New York Knicks will hold with Doug McDermott, who will be a restricted free agent in 2018.

Thus, if McDermott shows out in 2017-18 and other franchises decide to take a chance on him, the Knicks will be in a position of control due to restricted free agency rights.

This may seem like a rather pedestrian reason for excitement, but it’s a noteworthy change of tune from the Knicks. New York has consistently made poor financial decisions, due in large part to the mismanagement of contracts.

That much was proven when the Knicks’ decision to sign Ron Baker to a one-year deal in 2016 resulted in needing to hand him a two-year contract worth $8.9 million the following summer.

A contract worth $4.45 million per season isn’t reason to cry or complain, but it was an avoidable outcome. Had New York merely included an option or non-guaranteed second year, it could have saved considerable cap space.

The fact that New York acquired a promising talent in their contract year is encouraging enough, but the fact that McDermott is a restricted free agent adds an entirely new element.

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