Trades to create cap space: 0.5
2019 free agency has the chance to shake the NBA to its core. Superstars will hit the open market, including Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, each of whom, and others, may require a maximum contract.
The New York Knicks already have over $30 million in cap space, and the waive of Joakim Noah helped this Saturday. Was that the last move to create more money for July, though?
The Knicks have candidates for in-season moves, pending they can find suitors for contracts that run beyond 2018-19, but unless a team wants potentially two more years of Hardaway, Courtney Lee is the main option. Lance Thomas’ money can move, but his deal is not guaranteed for 2018-19, so it leaves him out of this equation.
Lee is owed $25 million guaranteed, with $12.75 million of it in the second season. Even with inflated salaries over the past three years, it’s still ample money for anyone to take and limit their ability to spend in July.
Maybe a contender feels Lee is their final piece towards a championship and willingly takes the money. How much does it expunge from New York’s committed salaries if they have to consume someone’s salary?
If not Lee, the Knicks may stay silent in the trade department, thus the 0.5 over/under for trades to create cap space.