It has been widely publicized that the Knicks have enough cap space this upcoming offseason to afford two maximum contracts. Indeed, they will have the space, but this will not be the correct way to approach the long-awaited summer of 2010.
The salary cap for the 2010-11 season has not yet been determined, but it is projected to be approximately $54 million. The Knicks will presumably have five players on their roster following this season:
1. Eddy Curry at $11.2 million
2. Danilo Gallinari at $3.3 million
3. Wilson Chandler at $2.1 million
4. Toney Douglas at $1 million
5. Bill Walker at approximately $854,000
Sergio Rodriguez has a $2.8 million qualifying offer due for 2010-11, but it can be withdrawn by the Knicks before July 23 without needing the approval of Rodriguez. In my opinion, this is the route Walsh should take.
The five players listed above total $18.5 in team salary. However, there is a salary cap rule that requires the mandatory 12 roster spots to be accounted for, salary cap-wise. The "phantom" player cap hold costs the team $488,000 for each roster spot short of the mandatory 12.
The Knicks will have the mentioned five players, plus three second round draft picks on their roster come free agency time, totaling eight roster spots filled. This leaves four unoccupied spaces on the roster, costing the Knicks $488,000 times four spots, which is $1.95 million in holds counting against the cap this offseason.
Let's assume the Knicks renounce David Lee and Tracy McGrady's Bird Rights, which would cost them $10.5 in cap holds, and also renounce the exceptions (Mid Level Exception, Bi-Annual Agreement) which would be a $5.8 million cap hold.
This would leave only the five players' salaries, and four "phantom" salaries, counting against the cap, which again is projected to be $54 million.
The Knicks would have $33.4 in cap space to spend this summer.
For a $54 million cap, a maximum contract would amount to $16.2 million. So, yes, two max players could hypothetically be afforded, but that would leave $1 million to spend to fill out the rest of the roster.
Signing one maximum contract is pretty much a given. Whether it be LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh Joe Johnson, or another top-tier player, Donnie Walsh will bring one of them to MSG.
If this isn't the case, then the 2010 plan has failed.
With $33.4 million at his disposal, enough to afford two maximum players, not obtaining a single one would be considered a failure. Considering the amount of time that has been put into the plan (the sacrificing of two seasons), coming away with none of the prime available players would simply be considered a backfiring of the plan.
With that said, the offseason is obviously dependent on the signing of a maximum player. Personally, I believe LeBron will remain a Cavalier. I do believe that Dwyane Wade will explore all available options however, and eventually land in New York. Just a hunch.
So, by now it's mid-July and the Knicks have Dwyane Wade all to themselves, still with $17.2 million to spend.
Options are numerous for Walsh at this juncture. Many free agents, along with trades, are on the table for Walsh to closely examine. But his next move should be a gimme.
Sign David Lee.
Lee will really be the top forward available this summer next to Chris Bosh, who will likely receive a max deal somewhere. Last offseason, Lee was looking for a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of $10-12 million. No team signed him to an offer sheet with these demands, and Lee remained a Knick.
But now, with an All-Star appearance under his belt, a jump shot that scrapes nylon more often than not, and newly acquired post moves to call his own, Lee will receive big money from someone, and if Chris Bosh isn't a New York Knick in 2010-11, David Lee must be.
Once a paramount player such as Wade is received, expect Lee to lower his demands from New York, and return to the Knicks for approximately $11.5 million in 2010-11.
But then there's the possibility of bringing back Tracy McGrady.
McGrady has said that he would return to New York on the cheap if it meant being surrounded by a great cast of players. I see it very unlikely that the Knicks will be able to afford both Lee and T-Mac, however.
If Lee accepts a deal of about $7-8 million, this would free up $4-5 million more to spend. In my opinion, a $4-5 million deal would be hard for McGrady to reject.
He's coming off a partially played season, and being surrounded with Dwyane Wade, an improved and even more experienced David Lee, and more players to be acquired later in the summer, is too enticing.
McGrady's deal won't be the one the Knicks would have to worry about being accepted, David Lee's is.
Lee's ego is seemingly growing with each double-double, and I really can't think his contract demands would decrease after his wonderful 2009-10 season.
If he bites the bullet and accepts a heavily back-loaded deal that earns him only $7-8 million in '10-11 (but maybe, say, $12-13 million a couple years down the road), this would benefit the Knicks greatly...but it might be a tough pill for Lee to swallow, as he may have better offers elsewhere.
Granted, I'm speaking from a fans' perspective, but if I'm David Lee, I trust Donnie Walsh to lead the team to a championship(s) remotely soon. He has carried out his plan very well to this point, and I have no reason to think he won't lead the Knicks to greatness, just as he did the Pacers in the 90s.
I would take a cheaper deal than I desire to play on this team. I would sign for the not-so-much-now, but back-loaded deal to stay in New York.
So, with Lee and T-Mac on board, the Knicks still need a role-playing guard type, and they won't have to look far. Eddie House is a fine option as a guard off the bench and a quick scoring option.
If House won't settle for about $1 million dollars, Anthony Carter from Denver, as well as Luther Head of Indiana, Anthony Morrow of Golden State, Acie Law of Chicago, or even Earl Boykins of the Wizards are all viable options for Walsh.
The Knicks would now have around $5 million to spend in free agency, and important positions are yet to be filled. The team still has no center. David Lee cannot be the full-time center for another season. He lacks the size and defensive ability to do so.
Donnie Walsh has coveted Marcus Camby, and will do so stronger than ever, come summer 2010, according to the New York Daily News.
Although Camby will be 36-years-old next season, his defensive and shot-blocking abilities are still ever-present, and he simply carries more of a presence than Lee does in the middle.
At Camby's age, and with his fond memories of New York, he could very well sign for the available money the Knicks have, about $4-5 million.
So the Knicks now have their center, but still have a gaping hole at the point guard position, as they withdrew Sergio Rodriguez's qualifying offer prior to the offseason to create more cap space.
Time to deal.
Walsh has said that his next trades will be ones that bring in salary, rather than ship it out. One would have to think he would inquire Minnesota regarding Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio, but the likelihood of a deal landing Rubio in NY isn't very bright, as he signed a new three year contract to a team in Barcelona in the summer of 2009.
So Walsh will have to expand his horizons to Toronto for Jose Calderon, Charlotte for DJ Augustin, Detroit for Rodney Stuckey, or possibly even Washington for Gilbert Arenas—pending his status with the league.
If Walsh can find a deal of his liking that works out financially, a point guard will be found, and the line up will just about be filled out.
1. Calderon, Augustin, or other potential trade options
2. Wade
3. McGrady
4. Lee
5. Camby
A very respectable lineup. Throw in Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Eddie House (or his replacement), and Bill Walker off the bench and it's a nice little project put together.
If you haven't noticed, this is still a very small team. Without any remaining cap space to sign free agent big men, a trade would be ideal.
The last piece to round out the 2010-2011 Knicks? Hasheem Thabeet.
Thabeet was recently sent to the D-League to work on his skills, and has dominated in his time there. He has remarkable size, standing at 7'3'', and he will add bulk to his body as he ages.
Given the chance to grow under the D'Antoni system, while adding his already developed ball-swatting abilities as Marcus Camby's back-up, Thabeet will be the next big thing at the center position in the NBA in no time.
Well, there it is: the entire offseason. Yes, there are plenty of moving parts, but with this main framework, the Knicks will instantly becoming a shoo-in for the NBA Playoffs, and a title contender as team chemistry develops.
In Donnie we trust.
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