AboveLegit Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Just read an article on the possibility of CP3, Dwill, or Dwight Howard joining Amare and Melo in New York.. But there's one problem: Under every scenario I could come up with, the Knicks are unlikely to have the money to make a competitive offer to a major free agent next summer or possess the assets to trade for him beforehand. The Knicks are expected to have four players -- Anthony (at a little more than $20 million), Stoudemire (at a little less than $20 million), Balkman ($1.7 million) and Toney Douglas ($2 million) -- under contract in the 2012 offseason, adding up to about $44 million in payroll. And that does not include Landry Fields, who will be a restricted free agent that summer, or the Knicks' 2011 first-round draft pick. If the Knicks keep and commit to both, the payroll will be several million higher. If not, the Knicks will also have to account for another eight minimum cap holds (assuming that the new salary cap rules require cap holds, which is likely) to reach the required 12-man roster. That would raise their projected cap another $2.5 million, putting them around $46.5 million. Assuming the salary cap in 2012 is the same that it is this season ($58 million), the Knicks would be looking at $11.5 million in cap space in 2012. However, no one thinks the cap will stay the same. With the owners asking for major concessions from the players in the new collective bargaining session, the cap will most likely be considerably lower. Even if the NBA lowers the maximum salary that players like Paul, Williams or Howard can make in 2012 or if it rolls back salaries on existing contracts, it's highly unlikely the Knicks will have the cap space to pay them anything close to the max. Virtually any lowering of salaries is likely to be proportional to the drop in the cap. So, at best, the Knicks will have $11.5 million in cap space. At worst, it could be considerably less. The Knicks could also try to do what they did with Anthony and make a trade at next season's trade deadline for one of the elite free agents. But the problem with that idea is that they have even less to work with than they did this season. New York won't have a first-round pick they can offer until, at best, 2016 (league rules prohibit teams from trading picks in consecutive years). So what could the Knicks offer a team like the Hornets, Jazz or Magic? Billups' expiring contract would be a possible lure. So would be Fields', if he continues to develop. But after that, the Knicks' cupboard is pretty bare now that they've used their best assets to acquire Anthony. Some have suggested that the Knicks could start stockpiling draft picks by essentially buying them from teams who need to save money. But typically those picks are in the late first round and aren't especially attractive to other teams. So while fans may be celebrating the arrival of another star to the Big Apple, luring one more and building a contender will be much tougher. In the short term, the team has achieved respectability, added two All-Star talents and even created some sizzle. But in the long term, the team still lacks the critical assets to be a true title contender.If Knicks fans are happy with 45-to-50 wins per season and a likely first-round exit from the playoffs, then this was a winning move. But for all the Knicks fans who say that nothing but a title contender will make them happy, this deal may have actually put their team further from their goal than they think.http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=Knicks-2012-110222 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest N/A Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 It wasn't certain they would get CP3 or D-Will anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 I don't think either one was headed there to begin with. I think D-Will goes to either Houston or Dallas and CP3 ends up in Orlando. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest N/A Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 I don't think either one was headed there to begin with. I think D-Will goes to either Houston or Dallas and CP3 ends up in Orlando. Dallas please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NomarFachix Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 I don't think either one was headed there to begin with. I think D-Will goes to either Houston or Dallas and CP3 ends up in Orlando. lol @ predictions a season and a half away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish7718 Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 Players choose playing in NY with Melo and Amar'e over championships? *Kanye Shrug* Rumor has it CP3 said he'd play here for free. I don't believe, but I don't have a 'goal' of 2012-2013, I have a goal of right now, and building as best we can right now. MLE signings ftw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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