New York Knicks owner James Dolan teased rich fortunes for his franchise in the highly-anticipated 2019 offseason.
The 2018-19 season’s focus for the New York Knicks emphasized the future. Young players have held down the rotation, while veterans either took a backseat or left via transaction. Whether any of who’s on the roster now sticks for 2019-20 remains unknown.
That’s due to the prospect of 2019 free agency, with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Kemba Walker, Kawhi Leonard and other top names. They are all potentially maximum salary players, and the Knicks have space for two of them.
Will the Knicks actually sign one of them? That can’t happen until July 1, but owner James Dolan is quite confident in his organization’s ability to lure players.
In an interview on The Michael Kay Show, per the New York Post, Dolan said, he hears players and representatives express interest in playing for the Knicks “all the time.”
"“Look, New York is the mecca of basketball. We hear from people all the time, from players and representatives about who wants to come,” Dolan said on “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN radio Tuesday afternoon. “We can’t respond because of the NBA rules, etc. But that doesn’t stop them from telling us, and they do. I can tell you, from what we’ve heard, I think we’re gonna have a very successful offseason when it comes to free agents. … What really would help is if we got a pingpong ball to go for us.”"
It’s a strong statement from Dolan, who’s team was valued at $4 billion by Forbes earlier this year. Players may have interest in joining New York, but once free agency arrives, all bets are off for how each player’s situation will develop. That’s with Durant and Golden State, Irving and Boston, Leonard and Toronto and others.
The Knicks have the means to sign them, with approximately $70 million to spend in salary cap space. That does not mean all of it will go towards a top name or fully find use, but it’s available after the Kristaps Porzingis trade, which also unloaded Tim Hardaway and Courtney Lee‘s 2019-20 salaries.
Before that happens, the Knicks have May’s draft lottery to navigate or stay hopeful for. As of March 13, they own the NBA’s worst record. That puts them in position for a pick no lower than fifth, although the prize is Zion Williamson, likely at first overall.
15 games remain for that to play out, but even if the Knicks finish with the worst record, they will still share the same 14-percent odds with the second and third-worst records.
So while Dolan props up what could happen, along with fanbase excitement, nothing is guaranteed for the Knicks this summer. They need luck and quality players to leave championship-caliber situations for their own 55-loss and counting team.
The allure of playing in New York is there, and whoever arrives can make this their team, given the absence of star talent. Maybe multiple players will join the New York Knicks, but there’s a long road to travel to reach that.