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New York Knicks: Analyzing guaranteed money owed to each player

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 4: A general view of the New York Knicks logo before a game against the Sacramento Kings on December 4, 2016 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 4: A general view of the New York Knicks logo before a game against the Sacramento Kings on December 4, 2016 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Which players on the New York Knicks payroll have the most guaranteed money in their respective contract’s lifetime?

The New York Knicks redesigned their roster this offseason, with several players leaving in free agency and seven new additions. That is without mentioning the two draft picks in June, which aided the rebuilding effort.

The summer started with approximately $70 million in cap space and the Knicks used all of it. They gave fresh contracts to retool the payroll, with a handful of deals covering not just the 2019-20 season, but beyond.

For some of those contracts, players received guaranteed money for 2020-21. Otherwise, only one player has any concrete cash headed their way in 2021-22, barring team options being exercised.

So, with the offseason long over for the Knicks, where does their payroll stand with guaranteed money handed out in free agency and the draft? All numbers are via Basketball-Reference:

  1. Julius Randle: $40.9 million – Randle is the only player with money set for 2021-22, although it is just a partial guarantee of $4 million. He also stands above everyone on the roster in guaranteed salary for 2019-20.
  2. RJ Barrett: $16.07 million – Barrett has over $7.8 million arriving as a rookie, given his status as the third overall pick. His contract is set for 2020-21, and the Knicks have two team options to use through 2022-23 that skyrockets his guaranteed money.
  3. Bobby Portis: $15 million – Portis will make $15 million in 2019-20, with a team option for slightly more in 2020-21.
  4. Marcus Morris: $15 million – Morris’ contract is for one year, without any options or partial guarantees for a second season.
  5. Taj Gibson: $9.8 million – A team option for 2020-21 caps Gibson’s guaranteed money for the season.
  6. Elfrid Payton: $9 million – Payton has a small partial guarantee for the second season.
  7. Wayne Ellington: $7.8 million – Ellington will make a fully guaranteed salary this year, before playing for a team option the next season.
  8. Reggie Bullock: $5 million – Injuries will sideline Bullock to open the season, but he has a partial guarantee for the second year.
  9. Frank Ntilikina: $4.85 million – This number may rise if the Knicks pick up Ntilikina’s team option in late October.
  10. Dennis Smith Jr.: $4.46 million – Ditto for Smith Jr.
  11. Kevin Knox: $4.38 million – Knox will inevitably have his third year picked up this fall, increasing this guaranteed figure.
  12. Allonzo Trier: $3.55 million – Trier is on the last season of the two-year deal signed in December. There are no options for a third year.
  13. Ignas Brazdeikis: $2.41 million – Brazdeikis has two guaranteed salaries ahead as a second-round pick.
  14. Damyean Dotson: $1.61 million – Dotson is making cheap money on the last year of his deal.
  15. Mitchell Robinson: $1.55 million – Another promising season will make Robinson an extension candidate, potentially receiving a salary 10 times this amount.

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Despite all these guaranteed salaries, the New York Knicks can move on from most of them within the next 12-to-24 months. Will they all be worth the cost?

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