Apr 26, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) drives beside Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in the first quarter during game five of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
A few notes on the Knicks’ salary cap, the 15th roster spot and Immanuel Quickley as we get closer to training camp:
15TH MAN?
The Knicks have 14 players on traditional NBA contracts at the moment. You can have a maximum of 15 players on traditional NBA deals in the regular season.
So the Knicks can still add a player to their roster via free agency or trade.
If I had to guess, I don’t think they’re planning to add a rotation player with that open roster spot. Prior to the 2023 FIBA World Cup, some strategists in the organization felt very comfortable with Josh Hart playing power forward in the second unit and thriving as a screener/short roller in that unit, per SNY sources. (** I mention the FIBA World Cup because there is a chance that thinking has shifted based on performances from Hart or RJ Barrett during the tournament.)
The support for Hart at backup power forward indicates that New York isn’t looking for a rotation player at the position with their open roster spot. Maybe they add another veteran with that spot? (Until they retire, Taj Gibson and Ryan Arcidiacono will at least get consideration if New York wants to add someone with a good impact in the locker room/on team culture.) The Knicks may opt to keep the spot vacant; New York can carry as few as 14 roster players during the season (not including two-way players).
There is a financial implication to adding another player.
New York is hard-capped at $172.34 million in 2023-24. So they cannot exceed $172.34 million in team salary at any point this season. Both likely and unlikely bonuses count toward the hard cap. (New York has roughly $3.6 million in likely bonuses and $5.1 million in unlikely bonuses in 2023-24. Currently, New York has roughly $165.6 million in salary. So they have roughly $6.6 million left to spend before they hit the hard cap. They can add a 15th player without hitting the…
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