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New York Knicks: Ranking the contracts from most to least tradable

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Courtney Lee #5 and Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks in action against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on November 13, 2017 in New York City. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Courtney Lee #5 and Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks in action against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on November 13, 2017 in New York City. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks Tim Hardaway Jr. Boston Celtics Gordon Hayward (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
New York Knicks Tim Hardaway Jr. Boston Celtics Gordon Hayward (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /

4. Lance Thomas (1 year, $7.1 million; $7.58 team option for 2019-20)

Originally signed to a four-year deal, Lance Thomas is on Year Three, except with a team option that’s basically an unguaranteed salary for the fourth season in 2019-20.

Thomas makes $7.1 million in 2018-19. It’s an interesting salary to make a trade work, pending there’s ample money floating around in a deal to match what the players involved make. But, for someone that provides something on defense and nothing offensively, it limits his trade value overall, even for a team that wants to take a flier on a player.

It seems difficult for the New York Knicks to find a taker for this salary via trade. Not impossible, since there’s some value in matching money, but he holds minimal value in a rotation if that’s what a prospective team wants.

3. Tim Hardaway Jr. (2 years, $35.74 million; $18.97 million player option for 2020-21)

Tim Hardaway Jr. is the New York Knicks’ best, healthy player. He leads the team in scoring, which also sits as his current career-high, 21.0 points, as of Wednesday, Dec. 19.

Then, there’s the underlying plantar fasciitis, per the New York Post, and 39.5 percent shooting, the culmination of a difficult December for the sixth-year man. It paints an inefficient player, lowering his value for the team and via trade.

Hardaway already owned an undesirable two-year, $35.74 million contract, which includes an $18.97 million player option for 2019-20. Adding this inconsistent scoring line lowers what formerly made him a higher value player, despite the contract, and places him near the bottom of the pack.

At this point, to move Hardaway, the Knicks may need to attach a draft pick, with 2019 free agency ahead and a priority. If he heals and improves statistically maybe this notion changes, but, for now, it’s difficult to think his value is high.

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