Knicks have the best future in the Atlantic

[StlHawksFan]

The way the cap is set up, most teams cannot afford to have a "middle class" player any more. They've all locked up their caps with big contracts and fill out their rosters with vet min guys. Two exceptions: Nets and Knicks.

The Nets project to have a ton of cap room next season but there's really no free agents out there worth signing so they'll probably overpay for mediocre talent (see Houston with VanVleet for example) because Houston owns an upcoming Nets pick and they cannot afford to tank for that long.

As for the Knicks, look how they stack up in two seasons relative to the rest of the Atlantic.

NBA Cap in two years: 2026-2027 $170.1M
Max FA contract in two years: $51.3M


Here are the top 5 paid players of each team along with their age and combined salary in 2026-2027:

Knicks: $117.6M
Anunoby (29) $42.5M
Brunson (30) $37.7M
Hart (31) $20.9M
DiVincenzo (30) $12.5M
McBride (26) $4.0M
Knicks can afford to bring in a max player or to extend Bridges and Randle and still have flexibility below the apron.

Celtics: $191.5M
Tatum (28) $58.5M
Brown (30) $57.1M
Holiday (36) $34.8M
White (32) $30.3M
Hauser (29) $10.8M
Celtics are near the tax line with just 5 guys.

Sixers: $167.8M
Embiid (32) $59.5M
George (36) $54.1M
Maxey (26) $40.8M
Martin (31) $9.0M
McCain (22) $4.4M
Sixers are basically capped out with just 5 guys.

Raptors: $130.5M
Barnes (25) $41.8M
Quickley (27) $32.5M
Barrett (26) $29.6M
Poeltl (31) $19.5M
Dick (23) $7.1M
Raptors have a little wiggle room but RJ and Dick will both need to be extended so that eats up the room.

Nets: $61.6M
Claxton (27) $23.9M
Johnson (30) $23.6M
Clowney (22) $5.4M
Whitehead (22) $5.4M
Milton (30) $3.3M
As I mentioned above, the Nets are likely to blow their cap on Fred VanVleet or Brandon Ingram this upcoming offseason because there's not really anyone else out there. So they'll likely look a lot like the Raptors financially in 2 seasons.

[El Poochio]

Raptors have Barnes and RJ and likely another high pick next draft, we have Pacome Dadiet

[Iron Mantis]

The way the cap is set up, most teams cannot afford to have a "middle class" player any more. They've all locked up their caps with big contracts and fill out their rosters with vet min guys. Two exceptions: Nets and Knicks.

The Nets project to have a ton of cap room next season but there's really no free agents out there worth signing so they'll probably overpay for mediocre talent (see Houston with VanVleet for example) because Houston owns an upcoming Nets pick and they cannot afford to tank for that long.

As for the Knicks, look how they stack up in two seasons relative to the rest of the Atlantic.

NBA Cap in two years: 2026-2027 $170.1M
Max FA contract in two years: $51.3M


Here are the top 5 paid players of each team along with their age and combined salary in 2026-2027:

Knicks: $117.6M
Anunoby (29) $42.5M
Brunson (30) $37.7M
Hart (31) $20.9M
DiVincenzo (30) $12.5M
McBride (26) $4.0M
Knicks can afford to bring in a max player or to extend Bridges and Randle and still have flexibility below the apron.

Celtics: $191.5M
Tatum (28) $58.5M
Brown (30) $57.1M
Holiday (36) $34.8M
White (32) $30.3M
Hauser (29) $10.8M
Celtics are near the tax line with just 5 guys.

Sixers: $167.8M
Embiid (32) $59.5M
George (36) $54.1M
Maxey (26) $40.8M
Martin (31) $9.0M
McCain (22) $4.4M
Sixers are basically capped out with just 5 guys.

Raptors: $130.5M
Barnes (25) $41.8M
Quickley (27) $32.5M
Barrett (26) $29.6M
Poeltl (31) $19.5M
Dick (23) $7.1M
Raptors have a little wiggle room but RJ and Dick will both need to be extended so that eats up the room.

Nets: $61.6M
Claxton (27) $23.9M
Johnson (30) $23.6M
Clowney (22) $5.4M
Whitehead (22) $5.4M
Milton (30) $3.3M
As I mentioned above, the Nets are likely to blow their cap on Fred VanVleet or Brandon Ingram this upcoming offseason because there's not really anyone else out there. So they'll likely look a lot like the Raptors financially in 2 seasons.

Somehow the Nets find a way to screw us over and sign Randle.

[thebuzzardman]

Raptors have Barnes and RJ and likely another high pick next draft, we have Pacome Dadiet

Yeah, I'll take the Knicks

[Jalen Bluntson]

It's looking pretty bright but, we need to see what the current squad is really made of now. Same exact team as last season minus Shart/Bogs/Burks plus Bridges/Payne/Kolek.

Hopefully we get luck on our side with health this year. Randle missed half the season. Mitch missed half the season. OG played like 30 games. Shart was in and out of lineup as well.

With all of that and the mid season trade shake ups we STILL finished as the two seed making it a game 7 away from the ECF with a skeleton crew on the floor.

The team is pretty locked in for the next few years but, not a finished product. They have flexibility and a huge foundation to tweak should the need arise. Having some assets that will grow as we move forward and talent to send out on trades.... I'm loving it. Hasn't been this way in forever.

Did I mention we are a true contender? Yeah....that too! Fully healthy we cam beat anyone!!!! LFGK!!!

[Zenzibar]

Raptors have Barnes and RJ and likely another high pick next draft, we have Pacome Dadiet

So.
The Knicks are on the cusp of their 1st Championship in 50 fkn years! Where are the Raptors in that company?

Scotty Barnes wanted and didn't settle for less than the max.

So the difference between the highest and 2nd highest paid player on each perspective team, is in the Knicks favor.

And the while, the Knicks are stocking up on young talent, like Kolek and near high school 18 year old, first round talent like Dadiet.

[Clyde_Style]

Raptors got Dick

[El Poochio]

Raptors have Barnes and RJ and likely another high pick next draft, we have Pacome Dadiet

So.
The Knicks are on the cusp of their 1st Championship in 50 fkn years! Where are the Raptors in that company?

Scotty Barnes wanted and didn't settle for less than the max.

So the difference between the highest and 2nd highest paid player on each perspective team, is in the Knicks favor.

And the while, the Knicks are stocking up on young talent, like Kolek and near high school 18 year old, first round talent like Dadiet.

Its a discussion on who has the best future, not present

Its delusional comparing Kolek and Dadiet to the guys getting the max at 23-24 years old

[StlHawksFan]

Raptors have Barnes and RJ and likely another high pick next draft, we have Pacome Dadiet

So.
The Knicks are on the cusp of their 1st Championship in 50 fkn years! Where are the Raptors in that company?

Scotty Barnes wanted and didn't settle for less than the max.

So the difference between the highest and 2nd highest paid player on each perspective team, is in the Knicks favor.

And the while, the Knicks are stocking up on young talent, like Kolek and near high school 18 year old, first round talent like Dadiet.

Its a discussion on who has the best future, not present

Its delusional comparing Kolek and Dadiet to the guys getting the max at 23-24 years old

In two seasons the Knicks players will all be in their prime and have the ability to do a peripheral shake up if need be. The Raptors will still be a play-in team by the time we actually have to start worrying about rebuilding via the draft in 2032.

[Wildcat]

Raptors have Barnes and RJ and likely another high pick next draft, we have Pacome Dadiet

So.
The Knicks are on the cusp of their 1st Championship in 50 fkn years! Where are the Raptors in that company?

Scotty Barnes wanted and didn't settle for less than the max.

So the difference between the highest and 2nd highest paid player on each perspective team, is in the Knicks favor.

And the while, the Knicks are stocking up on young talent, like Kolek and near high school 18 year old, first round talent like Dadiet.

Its a discussion on who has the best future, not present

Its delusional comparing Kolek and Dadiet to the guys getting the max at 23-24 years old

In fairness, you started the comparison by bringing up Dadiet. The Knicks have about a 5 year window of contention. Raptors turning a corner I don't see? I didn't see Barnes or RJ signing lifetime deals with the Raptors. It seems presumptive to say 5 years from now the Raptors team is going to have this core.

[Guano]

So.
The Knicks are on the cusp of their 1st Championship in 50 fkn years! Where are the Raptors in that company?

Scotty Barnes wanted and didn't settle for less than the max.

So the difference between the highest and 2nd highest paid player on each perspective team, is in the Knicks favor.

And the while, the Knicks are stocking up on young talent, like Kolek and near high school 18 year old, first round talent like Dadiet.

Its a discussion on who has the best future, not present

Its delusional comparing Kolek and Dadiet to the guys getting the max at 23-24 years old

In fairness, you started the comparison by bringing up Dadiet. The Knicks have about a 5 year window of contention. Raptors turning a corner I don't see? I didn't see Barnes or RJ signing lifetime deals with the Raptors. It seems presumptive to say 5 years from now the Raptors team is going to have this core.

that core isn't sht now or in 5 or 10 or ever so what are we doing here.

[Zenzibar]

Raptors have Barnes and RJ and likely another high pick next draft, we have Pacome Dadiet

So.
The Knicks are on the cusp of their 1st Championship in 50 fkn years! Where are the Raptors in that company?

Scotty Barnes wanted and didn't settle for less than the max.

So the difference between the highest and 2nd highest paid player on each perspective team, is in the Knicks favor.

And the while, the Knicks are stocking up on young talent, like Kolek and near high school 18 year old, first round talent like Dadiet.

Its a discussion on who has the best future, not present

Its delusional comparing Kolek and Dadiet to the guys getting the max at 23-24 years old

Max contracts doesn't equate impact, i.e. Scottie Barnes and Mobley have terrible contracts, IMO. Given that the majority of the Knicks top 6 of 7 players are not even in their primes, I would say the Knicks have the brighter future for sure.

[Zenzibar]

Its a discussion on who has the best future, not present

Its delusional comparing Kolek and Dadiet to the guys getting the max at 23-24 years old

In fairness, you started the comparison by bringing up Dadiet. The Knicks have about a 5 year window of contention. Raptors turning a corner I don't see? I didn't see Barnes or RJ signing lifetime deals with the Raptors. It seems presumptive to say 5 years from now the Raptors team is going to have this core.

that core isn't sht now or in 5 or 10 or ever so what are we doing here.

Thank you.

[WargamesX]

So.
The Knicks are on the cusp of their 1st Championship in 50 fkn years! Where are the Raptors in that company?

Scotty Barnes wanted and didn't settle for less than the max.

So the difference between the highest and 2nd highest paid player on each perspective team, is in the Knicks favor.

And the while, the Knicks are stocking up on young talent, like Kolek and near high school 18 year old, first round talent like Dadiet.

Its a discussion on who has the best future, not present

Its delusional comparing Kolek and Dadiet to the guys getting the max at 23-24 years old

Max contracts doesn't equate impact, i.e. Scottie Barnes and Mobley have terrible contracts, IMO. Given that the majority of the Knicks top 6 of 7 players are not even in their primes, I would say the Knicks have the brighter future for sure.

They are definitely in their primes and would be existing it at the end of the window.

With that said if the plan is “compete for 5 years” then them being in their primes is exactly the age you would want them. They have their grown bodies, experience, and haven’t lost a step when it comes to speed.

The Knicks bet on Brunson and Randle and hopefully it works out.

[Zenzibar]

Its a discussion on who has the best future, not present

Its delusional comparing Kolek and Dadiet to the guys getting the max at 23-24 years old

Max contracts doesn't equate impact, i.e. Scottie Barnes and Mobley have terrible contracts, IMO. Given that the majority of the Knicks top 6 of 7 players are not even in their primes, I would say the Knicks have the brighter future for sure.

They are definitely in their primes and would be existing it at the end of the window.

With that said if the plan is “compete for 5 years” then them being in their primes is exactly the age you would want them. They have their grown bodies, experience, and haven’t lost a step when it comes to speed.

The Knicks bet on Brunson and Randle and hopefully it works out.

The difference is that the Knicks are IN that Windows and competing for a chip NOW. This while, minus Jules who is in his prime, are just entering their primes, this includes: Jalen Brunson, Donte, Mikal, OG, Mitch, Deuce and Precious. We have a good 3 years for top flight basketball. Much of that windows is due to friendly team contracts.

As a whole, much friendlier than either Toronto or Cleveland's.

[8516knicks]

Raptors got Dick

But they need an extension.

A solution? (guess it beats 76 Trombones)

Watch on YouTube

[Knicksman780]

Raptors got Dick

A Gradey one at that