When the New York Knicks have to make room for Allonzo Trier, who’s a candidate to go?
The New York Knicks were never expected to have a roster issue entering the 2018-19 season. That changed when Allonzo Trier impressed head coach David Fizdale in training camp, succeeded in the preseason and made the opening night roster on a two-way contract.
Two-way contracts allow a player to stay on an NBA roster for a maximum of 45 days. Once that expires, the player must return to the G League or receive the typical one-way deal to stay on the main roster.
At this rate, after 11.3 points on 46.6 percent shooting, Trier will stay with the Knicks past his December cut-off date. With a full roster, that means one player must go.
My guess of how the Knicks deal with the Trier roster spot, from least likely to most likely:
— Jonathan Macri (@JCMacriNBA) November 17, 2018
5. Baker waived (1% chance)
4. Trier sent down (2% chance)
3. Kanter waived (5% chance...*sigh*...)
2. Lee dealt for player who is then waived (7% chance)
1. Kornett waived (85% chance) https://t.co/C1CW2U2iTO
Who could this be? How many options are there? Let’s take a look:
4. Enes Kanter
Statistically, Enes Kanter has one of the best lines on the New York Knicks. His 15.2 points per game are second to Tim Hardaway Jr., and the 11.3 rebounds lead the team. That would make him a lock to stay, especially on a team that needs talent to just stay afloat, right?
Since Kanter moved to the bench, however, he has not seemed thrilled “leading the second unit.” This began with the sixth game and created this reaction:
Amid two more lineup changes, Kanter has remained on the bench. He still averages 25.7 minutes per game, but recently played a season-low 15 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Kanter is on an expiring contract, and it’s fair to assume his early use doesn’t spell much for his organizational future. Rather than wait for July 1, 2019, could he actually leave the roster beforehand?
This would require a buyout of his $18.6 million, which might not be the easiest process. It’s an almost impossible salary to trade, as well.
Jonathan Macri of Knicks Film School looked at Kanter’s potential involvement in a trade and didn’t think it was likely, either:
"It would have to be a team that would not only be able to send back the requisite amount of expiring salary, but be willing to do so as well. Of all the things New York might do between now and season’s end, taking back additional 2019-20 salary isn’t one of them."
That doesn’t sound like an appealing situation for the Knicks, who can just let the situation play out through the regular-season finale.
Maybe Kanter receives a buyout ahead of the late-winter deadline in 2019, but three-to-four weeks from now seem too quick and doesn’t allow New York’s ever-changing rotation situation to play out. Don’t expect anything here.