New York Knicks: The Complete 2021 Offseason Review

Knicks: Looking at The Miami Heat’s signings

The Miami Heat had a strange offseason, they had no picks in the draft as they were traded away in prior win-now moves. Then they signed a 36-year-old Kyle Lowry to a 3-year/$90M, resigned Duncan Robinson for 5-years/$90M, and also gave a 32-year-old Jimmy Butler a contract extension, 4-years/$184M.

While it seems like really far into the future, in the summer of 2023 the Heat will have a 38-year-old Lowry making $30M, a 34-year-old Jimmy Butler making $43.8M, and a 30-year-old Robinson making $18M. To make matters worse, Jimmy Butler will be making $50.3M in the 2025-26 season at age 36.

Robinson is a nice player, but he is just a specialist, and he is not that young, he is 27 years old and will be 32 at the end of that contract. The Knicks, in turn, signed Alec Burk who is a couple of years older, but a more dynamic player that also shoots over 40% from 3, but to a less expensive deal. Burks only cost the Knicks 2-years/$20M, which is $6M less per season, with a club option from a 3rd season.

What’s apparent is that Pat Riley knows this is his last dance and is going all-in with no concern for the future, that is going to be someone else’s problem. It’s no surprise now that several rising stars in the Heat organization decided to leave.

This bolds well for the Knicks, as the Heat have been the preferred destination franchise in the East. Miami is now locked into their roster of bad contracts that will make it easier for New York to usurp them as the most desirable franchise to play for in the East. Next summer the Knicks can pitch stars on a team led by Julius Randle, 26 years old, and RJ Barrett, who will be 22 years old instead of two overpaid stars that are exiting their primes.