New York Knicks have everything tied up as they head toward defending the crown (or almost). After a historic season, the Big Apple squad wants to go further to become the first team to repeat the title since the Golden State Warriors a decade ago. The challenge is on the table; that said, not without certain obstacles such as Miles McBride’s situation, squeezed by the franchise’s financial outlook.
It’s not that James Dolan is short of money or that the Knicks have stopped generating revenue, but moving beyond the second apron is something the owner ruled out months ago; and yes, they’re touching the limit of it.
According to Ian Begley of sny.tv, that scenario is what has slowed the signing of a contract extension with McBride. The Knicks are aware that his most recent performance has far surpassed the three-year, $13 million deal he signed two seasons ago, which is why they have negotiated with him throughout the summer.
Franchise and player may be aligned at this point, but the latter has simply run out of room on the salary sheet, so his signing depends on other moves that free up the space necessary to fit him without suffering the stiff penalties of surpassing $221 million in salaries (the second apron limit).
Miles McBride and Three Mandatory Extensions
The reality is that despite being very happy with McBride, he appears at the bottom of the Knicks’ priorities for a New York front office that already has its eye on potential contract extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Jalen Brunson. If these were to occur, the Knicks would have a large portion of their payroll committed to the starting five, tightening the belt even further for the role players.
With such data, the approach of the reigning champions could shift toward trying to maximize McBride’s value in a trade, since with only one year left on his contract (and given his most recent performance) he is a valuable asset in the NBA. The Knicks are not yet on that page, but it is a very real possibility.
