New York Knicks: Pros and Cons of bringing Wayne Ellington back

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DETROIT, MI – FEBRUARY 8: Wayne Ellington #2 of the New York Knicks reacts after being whistled for a foul during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 8, 2020, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Con: The Contract

If this were Major League Baseball, the New York Knicks would have a much easier decision on their hands. Unfortunately, the NBA has a salary cap, which means the Knicks will need to look much harder at how retaining Wayne Ellington’s services will impact the team.

If the Knicks decide to bring Ellington back for the 2020-21 season, they’ll need to pay him $8 million—a heavy figure with free agency looming.

Bringing Ellington back could prevent the Knicks from pursuing rising stars in free agency such as Fred Van Vleet and Christian Wood. It’s possible that New York will be quiet during the offseason, as the 2021 class offers a far more star-studded crop of players.

If that proves to be the case, and the intention is to sign a player cut from the same cloth as Van Vleet, Wood, or even Otto Porter Jr., then the choice to be made would be obvious.

Handing out a max contract may not be in the cards, but that doesn’t make the presence of cap space any less significant. In turn, New York will face a number of tough decisions on the contract front, including Bobby Portis‘ massive deal.

Cutting Ellington’s salary from the potential $8 million he could receive to the mere $1 million guaranteed would go a long way towards creating flexibility this summer.