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Were the Knicks right to sit on the sidelines during free agency?

By Ken Tavarez

Sep 19, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward (20) reacts during the first half of game three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward (20) reacts during the first half of game three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek, Knicks newest player Joakim Noah, Knicks President Phil Jackson and General Manager Steven Mills pose at Madison Square Garden training center, on July 8, 2016 in Tarrytown, New York.Noah joins the Knick after playing for the Chicago Bulls. / AFP / Bryan R. Smith (Photo credit should read BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images) /

2016 Free Agency

This was by far the worst summer in terms of free agent signings. The salary cap increased almost 33 percent and teams went crazy with the newfound salary cap space.

As you can see below, almost all these signings, with the exception of Kevin Durant to the Warriors (at a discount) and Al Horford to the Celtics, have backfired.

Most of the players on this list ended up getting traded or released. The most egregious signing was Chandler Parson by the Grizzlies for $98.5 million over 4 years. If most teams could go back in team, they would have offered less money and years to the players they signed that summer.

  1. Kevin Durant signs with Warriors – 2 yrs/$54MM – Great
  2. Al Horford signs with Celtics – 4 yrs/$113MM– Good
  3. Dwyane Wade signs with Bulls – 2 yrs/$48MM – Bad
  4. Harrison Barnes signs with Mavericks – 4 yrs/$94MM– Solid
  5. Dwight Howard signs with Hawks – 3 yrs/$70.5MM – Bad
  6. Chandler Parsons signs with Grizzlies – 4 yrs/$98.5MM – Horrible
  7. Ryan Anderson signs with Rockets – 4 yrs/$80MM – Bad
  8. Bismack Biyombo signs with Magic – 4 yrs/$72MM – Horrible
  9. Kent Bazemore signs with Hawks – 4 yrs/$70MM – Horrible
  10. Evan Turner signs with Blazers – 4 yrs/$70MM – Horrible
  11. Ian Mahinmi signs with Wizards – 4 yrs/$64MM – Horrible
  12. Jeremy Lin signs with Nets – 3 yrs/$36MM – Bad
  13. Aaron Afflalo signs with Kings – 2 yrs/$25MM – Bad

2017 Free Agency

BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 06: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against Gerald Wallace #45 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at TD Garden on November 6, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 06: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against Gerald Wallace #45 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at TD Garden on November 6, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

There were a lot less high-priced free agent signings in 2017 as most teams maxed out their cap space the summer before. You will notice that there were only two players that signed for more than $10 million per year that got a 4-year contract, Gordon Hayward and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Hayward’s effectiveness in Boston was hindered by a horrific injury, so he was not able to live up to his contract. Then of course there is Tim Hardaway Jr. who got a contract from Steve Mills that was way over market value.

  1. Gordon Hayward signs with Celtics – 4 yrs/$128MM – Bad
  2. Paul Millsap signs with Nuggets – 2 yrs/$61MM – Good
  3. Danilo Gallinari signs with Clippers – 3 yrs/$65MM – Good
  4. Jeff Teague signs with Wolves – 3 yrs/$57MM – Bad 
  5. George Hill signs with Kings – 3 yrs/$57MM – Bad
  6. Tim Hardaway Jr. signs with Knicks – 4 yrs/$71MM – Horrible

The best signings from this class were Paul Millsap and Danilo Gallinari, which isn’t saying much. Millsap is a very good player, however was an overpay, but at least his contract was only for 2 years. Gallinari’s first year with Clippers was unproductive due to injury, so he was only good for two of the three years of his contract.