Young draft picks on the roster: Time for patience
First, let me acknowledge that I am a big proponent of player development and not giving up on draft picks, even if they have been inconsistent during their rookie contracts. Not every lottery pick or player selected in the draft walks into the perfect situation -- most face some type of turmoil (coaches getting fired, lack of veteran leadership, etc.).
A case in point is what occurred in Phoenix with Josh Jackson. After two inconsistent seasons (and some off-the-court issues) under three coaches, the 2017 No. 4 pick was jettisoned to Memphis last offseason in a salary-cap dump. Then, after a 26-game G League stint -- a period that rebuilt him on and off the court -- the 23-year-old (yes, only 23) found structure in Memphis.
How this relates to the Knicks and their young players is simple. Since the 2017 draft, when Frank Ntilikina was drafted eighth overall, New York has had three head coaches in as many years; Thibodeau would be the fourth next year. The same could be said for former Dallas Mavericks point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who was taken right after Ntilikina in 2017.
RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox II and Ignas Brazdeikis will be going on their third head coach in two years. With the slate wiped clean for new management and the new coaching staff, the Knicks should take a conservative approach on what the future holds for each player. If they don't, a player like Knox could be the next Jackson -- but for another team.
New York's cap flexibility will come down to what the Knicks elect to do with the $43 million in non-guaranteed money tied up in six contracts. Gibson ($9.45 million), Ellington ($8 million), Payton ($8 million) and Bullock ($4.2 million) have $1 million guaranteed each, with the balance becoming fully protected if they are on the roster past Oct. 17. Portis ($15.8 million) and Theo Pinson ($1.7 million) have team options that New York has to decide on by Oct. 17.
If the Knicks wipe the roster clean and let all five players go, the team could have up to $50 million in room. The Knicks can retain Payton, Bullock and Gibson and still have $29 million in cap space.
If the Knicks are over the cap, they will have $9.8 million midlevel and $3.8 million biannual exceptions. If they stay below the cap, they will have the $5 million room midlevel exception.
Resources available to build the roster
First, let me acknowledge that I am a big proponent of player development and not giving up on draft picks, even if they have been inconsistent during their rookie contracts. Not every lottery pick or player selected in the draft walks into the perfect situation -- most face some type of turmoil (coaches getting fired, lack of veteran leadership, etc.).
A case in point is what occurred in Phoenix with Josh Jackson. After two inconsistent seasons (and some off-the-court issues) under three coaches, the 2017 No. 4 pick was jettisoned to Memphis last offseason in a salary-cap dump. Then, after a 26-game G League stint -- a period that rebuilt him on and off the court -- the 23-year-old (yes, only 23) found structure in Memphis.
How this relates to the Knicks and their young players is simple. Since the 2017 draft, when Frank Ntilikina was drafted eighth overall, New York has had three head coaches in as many years; Thibodeau would be the fourth next year. The same could be said for former Dallas Mavericks point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who was taken right after Ntilikina in 2017.
RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox II and Ignas Brazdeikis will be going on their third head coach in two years. With the slate wiped clean for new management and the new coaching staff, the Knicks should take a conservative approach on what the future holds for each player. If they don't, a player like Knox could be the next Jackson -- but for another team.
New York's cap flexibility will come down to what the Knicks elect to do with the $43 million in non-guaranteed money tied up in six contracts. Gibson ($9.45 million), Ellington ($8 million), Payton ($8 million) and Bullock ($4.2 million) have $1 million guaranteed each, with the balance becoming fully protected if they are on the roster past Oct. 17. Portis ($15.8 million) and Theo Pinson ($1.7 million) have team options that New York has to decide on by Oct. 17.
If the Knicks wipe the roster clean and let all five players go, the team could have up to $50 million in room. The Knicks can retain Payton, Bullock and Gibson and still have $29 million in cap space.
If the Knicks are over the cap, they will have $9.8 million midlevel and $3.8 million biannual exceptions. If they stay below the cap, they will have the $5 million room midlevel exception.
Resources available to build the roster
- The draft: two first-round picks and one second (via Charlotte)
- The potential of up to $50 million in cap space
- One-year veteran expiring contracts (if not waived): Payton, Ellington, Gibson, Bullock and Portis
- The young core: Barrett, Ntilikina, Smith, Knox and Mitchell Robinson
- $4.8 million room exception
- $5.6 million cash to send or receive in a trade
