It's somewhat annoying with new CBA that you need a combination law degree and economics degree to understand what a team might be able to do to sign players.
I get this has been a part of the NBA for years. Feels like with each CBA, the machinations get more complicated and it's harder to suss out how a team can operate. Particularly true with 1st and 2nd apron implications etc now.
Tongue in cheek aside it's not THAT complicated. Kind of opaque though
Hmm. AI thinks teams can carry up to 18 players (if $ allow)
An NBA team has a maximum of 15 standard roster spots and can also carry up to three players on two-way contracts, for a total of 18 potential players. Two-way players typically spend most of their time with the team's G League affiliate and are eligible to be active for up to 50 regular-season NBA games.
NBA G-League website feels otherwise
Beginning in the 2017 offseason, NBA rosters expanded from 15 to 17 players with the addition of two spots for players under “Two-Way Contracts.” For the 2025-26 season, each NBA team is permitted to have up to three players under Two-Way Contracts on its roster at any time (in addition to the maximum 15 players under Standard NBA Contracts).
I'm going to assume it's 17, or that the Knicks will be cash strapped enough to not even to be able to afford 3 Two Way contracts. Or, not 15 players on some kind of full NBA contract (rook, room, vet, full, MLE, lots of $ like KAT or OG etc)
Under contract in general order of importance/playing time
Brunson
Bridges
Anunoby
Towns
Hart
McBride
Mitch
Yabusele
Clarkson
Dadiet
Kolek
Hukporti
Those are the 12 players that I know of that the Knicks have under guaranteed contract
The league says they have to get to 14 by a certain date and I believe there's no CBA mandate teams have to 15 full NBA contracts.
Knicks can afford one vet and one rookie, correct? So:
Brogdan (most likely), Shamet and Matthews for 1 vet
Dink or Diawara for the rookie deal
McCullars for a two way
Dink or Diawara for the other two way
Unclear to me: If dealing just Kolek or just Dadiet frees up enough money for the winner of Shamet (most likely) or Matthews