Breaking: KAT to the Knicks

[Context]

Starting lineup on Opening Night last season:

PG: Jalen Brunson
SG: Quentin Grimes
SF: RJ Barrett
PF: Julius Randle
C: Mitchell Robinson

Projected starting lineup less than one year later:

PG: Jalen Brunson
SG: Josh Hart
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: OG Anunoby
C: Karl Anthony Towns

We have never had a Knick front office pull this off...

[thebuzzardman]

Hmmm interesting. Mitch only trade asset to upgrade at bench guard currently. Well addition by subtraction I guess.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

What are the implications of going over the 2nd apron?

I'd assume the Knicks are going to avoid doing this, so it's one out of the three of Morris, Shamet and Okeke.

BTW, this new CBA sucks, that it forces teams to do this.

Honestly, the NBA really gives a f*ck about the end of rosters? This is really what they wanted?

[thebuzzardman]

Was kind of hoping they'd be able to keep both Shamet and Morris for depth post trading of Donte and Bates-Diop.

I wonder if they trade Dadiet to a team with cap space for a future 1st round pick? Or is that not allowed now?

[god shammgod]

Hmmm interesting. Mitch only trade asset to upgrade at bench guard currently. Well addition by subtraction I guess.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

What are the implications of going over the 2nd apron?

I'd assume the Knicks are going to avoid doing this, so it's one out of the three of Morris, Shamet and Okeke.

BTW, this new CBA sucks, that it forces teams to do this.

Honestly, the NBA really gives a f*ck about the end of rosters? This is really what they wanted?

The second-apron repercussions will begin in earnest once the league calendar flips to 2024-25, with teams above that threshold now losing any mid-level exception entirely. They aren’t just limited to the 100% salary matching in trades, but second apron teams will also be prohibited from combining multiple players’ salaries into trades as well. Phoenix, as a specific example, could not trade both Jusuf Nurkić and Nassir Little for one player making $24.8 million. Second-apron teams also can’t utilize trade exceptions from previous years or send cash to help get deals get over the finish line.

Just how punitive this final element of the second-apron punishments turns out is what has league executives most curious about this summer’s activity — and how the next few seasons of roster construction unfold. Second-apron teams won’t be able to trade their first-round pick seven years into the future. So, if you’re in the second apron by season’s end of 2024-25, you’ll automatically have your 2032 first-round pick frozen and unable to be dealt. That might seem like a way-off draft asset, but those picks are valuable for contending teams that have already emptied much of their war chests. The Bucks, for instance, sent their 2030 first-round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of their September 2023 blockbuster to acquire Damian Lillard.

And here’s the tricky part: If a team then remains in the second apron for two of the following four seasons, its first-round pick seven years out won’t just be frozen, it will automatically be moved to the end of that first round — or the 30th pick.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-offseason-what-is-the-cbas-second-apron-and-how-does-it-limit-high-spending-teams-215607328.html

[Richard4444]

I don't get this "can only keep one of Morris or Shamet" business that keeps getting repeated.

Players under contract/depth

Brunson/Payne/Kolek
Bridges/Deuce
OG/Hart/Dadiet
KAT/Precious
Mitch/Sims

That's 12 players

Two way contracts:
McCullars
Hawkpootie
Toppin

Camp Invites prior to trade/Exhibit 9/10 guys

Okeke
Shamet
Morris

What am I missing? They could keep all 3 of the invites, if they wanted to, especially if Toppin etc doesn't outplay them in preseason and get converted.

2 things.

1) To avoid being hard capped at the first apron we need to give away more 8,8M besides Randle and Donte. Diop plus S&T Jeffries totalize around 5M or 5,5M. Probably, we can S&T Charlie Brown and Dwane to make the 8,8M.

2) We are hard-capped at the second apron (188,9M). Our payroll of 12 players cost us around 185,4M. If we get 3 min contracts to complete the roster (Shamet, Morris and Okeke), we would hit 192M.

[Kidknick!]

Homeboy don't look to happy or enthusiastic to be coming to NY. NOT A GOOD SIGN.

[JBreezeNY]

KAT goes away from the team’s identity of grittiness and goes towards softness. It’s not surprising to see everyone isn’t on board. I bet Thibs is pissed tbh

There's no way Thibs didn't sign off on this. Would find that hard to believe.

Did you see the way Thibs was talking about Randle this week? That doesn’t sound like someone who wanted Randle to be moved. Thibs also didn’t have the greatest relationship with KAT too

I’ll offer a different perspective, while Thibs was a fan of Randle & enjoyed his time here it doesn’t equal to him not wanting KAT. They already buried whatever beef they had, not to mention Thibs been praising him publicly as well.

FO came to Thibs with the idea of getting Kat, Thibs probably disappointed losing Ju but gets a second chance of repairing their relationship to win a title.

Not everything is so black and white.

[MrDollarBills]

Hmmm interesting. Mitch only trade asset to upgrade at bench guard currently. Well addition by subtraction I guess.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

What are the implications of going over the 2nd apron?

I'd assume the Knicks are going to avoid doing this, so it's one out of the three of Morris, Shamet and Okeke.

BTW, this new CBA sucks, that it forces teams to do this.

Honestly, the NBA really gives a f*ck about the end of rosters? This is really what they wanted?

The team will get ass blasted if they go over the apron

I agree. It's really stupid.

[Fat Kat]

Read on Twitter

[Richard4444]

Hmmm interesting. Mitch only trade asset to upgrade at bench guard currently. Well addition by subtraction I guess.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

What are the implications of going over the 2nd apron?

I'd assume the Knicks are going to avoid doing this, so it's one out of the three of Morris, Shamet and Okeke.

BTW, this new CBA sucks, that it forces teams to do this.

Honestly, the NBA really gives a f*ck about the end of rosters? This is really what they wanted?

We are hard-capped. We just can't go over the second apron. We can't sign any player that surpasses that amount.

[aggo]

Mikal for LeBron

[G_K_F]

Hmmm interesting. Mitch only trade asset to upgrade at bench guard currently. Well addition by subtraction I guess.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

Mitch Rob + Wizards 1st for Isiah Stewart and Ivey.

[Iron Mantis]

Is KAT a Knick yet?

[GettinitDone]

Thought I posted on Knicks forum

Wait wait so you telling me KAT is much better than JR we have to throw in Divo + a FRP?

Wait what???

Since the Warriors or Mavs aren't trading Steph or Luka anytime soon, at 3rd in 3pt makes in the L all season Divo IS the Steph Curry a team can realistically get. He's OUR Steph Curry. I said it again and again he makes our offense special, teams can't cheat off him. Spacing he provides for us is basically the best in the L a team can get since no team can get Steph or Luka.

I've waited months for Nova Knicks, I'm so gutted

We now have to start Hart at SG?? For real?? Our 3 pt shooting will plummet to worst 10 in the L, having a sharpshooter like Divo is infectious it lifts the swag/ confidence of his teammates' they can shoot high percentage too

I hope hope they amend this trade, take out Divo and put in Mitch or friggin Kolek lol ...

Divo's energy is boundless and his constant communication was underrated and vital for us...

Really wanted to see the Nova Knicks... 4 guys on NCAA championship teams on the same NBA team... you ain't getting that in 50-100 years from
now!! I almost wish we hadn't made this trade

---

Offensively, KAT at C could be a perfect fit for our team. He can post up, he can shoot mid range to 3pt, he can pick and roll or pop.

Not sure about his contract, his rebounding, esp offensive rebounding, not sure about his passing... gotta watch his highlights again...

Still excited for the season ofc, can't wait

I'm not sure about KAT's defense either

[god shammgod]

i honestly just don't know. kat is one of those players who i just never enjoyed. lots of talent but just always struck me as someone who you can't win it all with. this is a risky deal. on top of that they overpaid og and overpaid for mikal. they went from playing it very safe to kind of throwing caution to the wind completely to maximize brunson's prime. which makes sense. he's 28 and the time is now if you're gonna try to go for it with him. and the league doesn't have a team who looks unbeatable. there's more parity than ever before. boston is the closest but the salary cap implications might have them breaking up that team by next summer. and horford is 38 and kp is probably more injury prone than mitch. so i understand the "this is a disaster" people but at the same time it's as good a time as there's been to try to win it all and there might have not been better moves than these out there anytime soon. it'll be interesting to watch. that's for sure.

[Spandau]

Jalen has earned his position as an alpha star in this league so this team should be looking to build a championship contender around him immediately. KAT at the 5, and a newly heightened role for Deuce when he may have been buried behind Bridges and Donte, provide that.

I’m a big fan of Julius, and Donte became one of my favorite players on the team last season so it’s really tough to see those guys go. That said, this team now has some really dynamic offensive options, and I’m even feeling fine about the defense — with free safeties like OG and Josh out there, along with Bridges.

I trust KAT, I trust Deuce, and I even trust Precious in this important contract year as a contributor at multiple positions if/when injuries hit. I also trust that this team has largely been built on players capable of playing and defending multiple positions, to make up for the injury risks that the stars have.

Hard to lose a fan favorite, along with a dude who I still think was way under appreciated, but this team is simply BETTER now. Give Jalen a fighting chance to lead this thing somewhere: that’s what Leon just did.

[Nazrmohamed]

Hmmm interesting. Mitch only trade asset to upgrade at bench guard currently. Well addition by subtraction I guess.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

What are the implications of going over the 2nd apron?

I'd assume the Knicks are going to avoid doing this, so it's one out of the three of Morris, Shamet and Okeke.

BTW, this new CBA sucks, that it forces teams to do this.

Honestly, the NBA really gives a f*ck about the end of rosters? This is really what they wanted?

The team will get ass blasted if they go over the apron

I agree. It's really stupid.

Can't we dump Dadiet and the other kid from Orlando? I know it isn't lingsighted but we need skilled vets. I can argue you need Morris now more than ever with Mirch out and Shamet too considering wr just lost DVC

[Enzo954]

Homeboy don't look to happy or enthusiastic to be coming to NY. NOT A GOOD SIGN.

What makes you say that? Because of his tweet....?

[DaGawd]

i honestly just don't know. kat is one of those players who i just never enjoyed. lots of talent but just always struck me a someone who you can't win it all with. this is a risky deal. on top of that they overpaid og and overpaid for mikal. they went from playing it very safe to kind of throwing caution to the wind completely to maximize brunson's prime. which makes sense. he's 28 and the time is now if you're gonna try to go for it with him. and the league doesn't have a team who looks unbeatable. there's more parity than ever before. boston is the closest but the salary cap implications might have them breaking up that team by next summer. and horford is 38 and kp is probably more injury prone than mitch. so i understand the "this is a disaster" people but at the same time it's as good a time as there's been to try to win it all and there might have not been better moves than these out there anytime soon. it'll be interesting to watch. that's for sure.

there wasn’t a better alternative. luka, greek, jokic, sga weren’t walking thru that door any time soon

[god shammgod]

i honestly just don't know. kat is one of those players who i just never enjoyed. lots of talent but just always struck me a someone who you can't win it all with. this is a risky deal. on top of that they overpaid og and overpaid for mikal. they went from playing it very safe to kind of throwing caution to the wind completely to maximize brunson's prime. which makes sense. he's 28 and the time is now if you're gonna try to go for it with him. and the league doesn't have a team who looks unbeatable. there's more parity than ever before. boston is the closest but the salary cap implications might have them breaking up that team by next summer. and horford is 38 and kp is probably more injury prone than mitch. so i understand the "this is a disaster" people but at the same time it's as good a time as there's been to try to win it all and there might have not been better moves than these out there anytime soon. it'll be interesting to watch. that's for sure.

there wasn’t a better alternative. luka, greek, jokic, sga weren’t waking thru that door any time soon

i agree. and embiid just re-signed. will they win it all ? they have a chance. health is a factor because og/kat/mitch all miss a lot of time.