NY Knicks CAA Files: Potential Free Agents Leon Rose might target
4 players with options or non-guaranteed contracts that have ties to Leon Rose’s former CAA position who could find themselves on the New York Knicks.
The New York Knicks have up to $50 million in cap space this offseason, a number that could change but will remain one of the largest in the league after coronavirus-impacted league revenues force an adjustment to the 2020-21 salary cap threshold.
Team president Leon Rose worked to construct a front office with a diverse set of skills. Scott Perry & Allan Houston remain the primary holdovers from the previous regime. With a new team of personnel including Brock Aller, Walt Perrin, William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley,” & Frank Zanin, Rose has all the tools in the toolbox necessary to build the Knicks roster in free agency.
Part 1 of the CAA Files explored 7 unrestricted free agents with ties to Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Part 2 of the CAA Files, likewise, explored 7 restricted free agents. Another area where the team can exploit its diverse front office is in the realm of player options and non-guaranteed contracts.
With the crunch in the salary cap, there is a significant possibility most players will exercise their player options for the 2020-21 season.
However, the Knicks can utilize their front office experience to convince the agents of certain players, especially those with CAA ties, to decline their player options to receive either a balloon or incentive-laden contract for one season. We often see players sign 2-year “prove it” deals (with the 2nd year as a player option).
The second option is to capitalize on players that have non-guaranteed deals heading into the 2020-21 season. Teams near the edge of the luxury tax threshold will prefer to shed salaries to save luxury tax dollars. This would also allow the Knicks to utilize their cap room to sign a player to a balloon contract.
Thus, Part 3 of the CAA Files delves into 4 CAA-affiliated players with player options or non-guaranteed deals heading into the 2020-21 seasons.