2010 wrote:Not realistic. Someone would have to take below their max or all 3 take a little less than the max.
Key word = possible
Quick answer, it depends.....It is not possible if they acquire AD first prior to signing KD and Kyrie... This is because KD's max is going to be 35% of the cap since he's a 10 year veteran. If we sign 2 max guys with less than 10 years of experience, it is possible to acquire AD right now and have 2 max contracts left in the summer. No matter what, acquiring AD helps with this conversation because he only makes 27 million. Kawhi, Kyrie, Kemba, Butler, Klay are all set to make 30% of the cap. KD is going to make 35% of the cap.
With that said, there are scenarios that are plausable in which the Knicks could afford 3 of these guys. This is because one nice part of having only good contracts left on the cap are that they're all movable, if necessary. The only cap hit not movable is Noah. So, to start, take the projected salary cap number of $109M, subtract the salary committed to Noah's buyout $6,431,667 and LFT's guarantee of $1,000,000.
Step 1) Assumption: 109M Cap
Step 2) Toal Possible Space before Cap Holds = (109M LESS Noah and LFT) = 101,568,333
Step 3) 9 Cap Holds (Est. $838,464/ea) = 7,546,176
Step 4) Total Space for 3 players = 94,022,157
Step 5)
AD Salary 2019 = 27,093,019
Kyrie Salary 2019 = 32,700,00
KD Salary 2019 = 38,150,000
TOTAL SALARY CAP NEEDED TO ACQUIRE ALL 3 = 97,943,019
THEREFORE....
Scenario 1) If they acquire AD first via trade NOW, it would all comes down to if Kyrie and/or Durant want to give up any money. AD is under contract so he can not give up money even if he wants to.
Scenario 2) If they sign Kyrie and KD outright for $70,850,000 first (or any other 2 max cats), they could then retain the following roster:
1) Kyrie & KD + Noahs Cap Hold + LFT guaranteed = 77,281,667
-PLUS-
3) Knox = 4,380,120
4) Smith Jr = 4,463,640
5) Robinson = 1,559,120
6) Ntilikina = 4,855,800
7) Dotson = 1,618,520
8) Trier = 3,551,100
9) 2019 Number 1 Pick (Highest Salary Scenario) - ($6,804,300)
10) 2nd Rnd Pick = Rookie Minimum (838,464)
11) Min Cap Hold = 838,464
12) Min Cap Hold = 838,464
Total Salary Committed = 108,029,659
We could then use any combination of our roster and future picks to trade for stars... even if it means going over the cap. The salaries that we receive must be within 125% + 100,000 of the outgoing salaries. Therefore, if we can retain any of these guys off their current deals for short-term deals and/or good value deals, it would help to meet future salaries via trade. In other words, we would have to exchange $21,594,416 in salaries to acquire AD.
This would require something along the lines of:
2019 1st = 6,804,300
Knox = 4,380,120
Ntilikina = 4,855,800
Trier = 3,551,100
Dotson = 1,618,520
2nd Rnd Pick = 838,464
TOTAL SALARY TRADED: 22,048,304
Final Thoughts
1) Durants 35% salary max makes matters a little more difficult. Opting to sign Kawhi or two guys with less than 10 years of experience would ease financial matters considerably and allow us to retain more of our current young core without HAVING to include them just to match salaries.
2) With that said, even if we are fortunate enough to sign Durant, we could then make a trade for AD happen and retain 1 of the following: DSJ, Knox or 2019 1st round pick. We would also be able to retain Robinson or Dotson.
3) I expect LFT to be included in a deal before the deadline to get his $1,000,000 guarantee off the books.
An example of a roster with 3 max guys would look as follows:
C: Robinson
PF: AD
SF: Durant
SG: Minimum/Dotson
PG: Kyrie
6: Knox, DSJ or 2019 1st Rnd Pick
7) Minimum
8) Minimum
9) Minimum
Alternatively, I could see the Knicks try the following:
C: Robinson
PF: AD
SF: Knox
SG: Klay
PG: Kyrie
6: Dotson or Trier
7: Minimum
8: Minimum
