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New York Knicks free agency hopes hinge on deadline moves

By Daniel Lubofsky

PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 7: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks looks on against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 7, 2019 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 7: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks looks on against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 7, 2019 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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If the New York Knicks hope to be players in free agency, they first must make sure they have enough cap space to do so by making some deadline deals.

The New York Knicks have made very clear their intended pursuit of top-level free agents in the summer of 2019, setting themselves up for a marquee signing by doing little to nothing to jeopardize their precious cap space.

When looking at the likelihood of their chances to land a guy like Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving, the Knick have a lot going for them at this point. They have a well-respected head coach, a young core brimming with potential and they play in the worlds most famous arena which just so happens to be located in the media capital of the world.

All those aspects will certainly factor into any recruitment process that will take place come July 1, but before a team can even secure a meeting with one of these NBA elites, they first have to make sure they have one very important thing all players are looking for: Money.

As we’ve seen in the past, some All-Stars have been willing to take pay-cuts under the right set of circumstances, but more often than not, guys want to get what they feel has been earned, and there is little reason for them to feel otherwise.

New York has done a great job of making sure no matter who is signed or what trade is made, there is no additional money added to the ledger for next season.

Still, if the Knicks are truly in pursuit of the biggest fish in the free agency pond, they’ll need to be proactive in making some deals to shed more money, because right now they don’t have enough to give a guy like KD the max, a figure the reigning two-time Finals MVP is set to pursue.

The trade deadline is on Feb. 7, which gives Steve Mills and Scott Perry a little over three weeks to make this happen. Courtney Lee is a valuable commodity making under $13 million both this season and next. Despite his bloated contract, Tim Hardaway Jr. is having his best season at just 26-years of age.

Both players could be of great value to a postseason contender and neither seems to be part of New York’s ultimate plans moving forward. Only one of the two needs to be moved to free up the necessary cap-space, and there is no reason that shouldn’t come to fruition.

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It’s not wishful thinking to suggest the New York Knicks have as good a shot as they’ve ever had in the free agency game. First, though, they have to make sure they’re eligible to even play, a fate which will be determined over these next few weeks leading up to the deadline.

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