Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Five burning questions following the waiving of Troy Williams

By Maxwell Ogden

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 25: Troy Williams #0 of the New York Knicks dunks against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on March 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 25: Troy Williams #0 of the New York Knicks dunks against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on March 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
GREENBURG, NY – JULY 17: New York Knicks team President, Steve Mills and Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks introduce General Manager Scott Perry at a pess conference at the at Knicks Practice Center July 17, 2017 in Greenburg, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
GREENBURG, NY – JULY 17: New York Knicks team President, Steve Mills and Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks introduce General Manager Scott Perry at a pess conference at the at Knicks Practice Center July 17, 2017 in Greenburg, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Is 2019 Free Agency Still The Focus?

The New York Knicks have made it clear that creating cap space for the 2019 period of free agency is on the agenda. Re-signing Kristaps Porzingis is the top priority, but another star could potentially be added to the roster a year from now.

While parting with Troy Williams addresses the potential cap hold issue, it also beckons the question: Why would New York choose to part with an expiring contract?

The Knicks could’ve trimmed the roster by trading shooting guard Courtney Lee or cutting center Joakim Noah. Lee has contributed well to the Knicks, but he has two seasons and $25,013,450 remaining on his contract.

Parting with Lee would mean clearing as much as $12,759,670 from the books for the 2019-20 season—a significant step towards creating max-level cap room.

Noah is owed $19,295,000 in 2019-20, which is the figure that New York appears most interested in parting with. That will be easier said than done, but if the Knicks somehow replaced Lee and Noah with expiring contracts—or outright buyouts—they’d clear over $32 million in cap space.

Instead, the Knicks opted to waive a player who had just one year remaining on his contract—which leads one to ask if the 2019 period of free agency is indeed the focus.

Must Read: Fringe player predictions for the 2018-19 season

We’ll have to wait for answers, but the New York Knicks certainly created questions by waiving Troy Williams.

Home/Knicks News