The Knicks spent 53 years chasing an NBA championship. Now, just months after finally ending that drought, the franchise faces a familiar dilemma: how much to spend to keep the core together. New York enters its title defense above the first luxury-tax apron but still below the second, a line that has already cost them a key piece of last season’s roster.
Jalen Brunson, who turned 30 on Sunday, wants the team’s focus squarely on the future. Public praise for the title has been welcome, but Brunson insists the group can’t dwell on last year’s success if they hope to improve.
“When people say that, can we let that go through one ear and out the other?” Brunson told Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “Can we just focus on what we can do this year? Because last year was last year.”
Robinson exit reflects Knicks’ second-apron line
Mitchell Robinson’s move to the Celtics stung, especially for Brunson. Robinson, the longest-tenured Knick on the championship squad, left in free agency after owner James Dolan refused to push payroll into the second apron to keep the core intact.
The numbers tell the story. New York sits $18 million above the luxury-tax line and $9.4 million above the first apron, but just $3.3 million shy of the $221.7 million second-apron threshold. That slim margin has shaped every offseason move.
Brunson called Robinson’s departure “bittersweet,” even with the center joining a rival.
“Obviously playing for a rival and I know people want every team to hate each other,” Brunson said. “But there are some people you really care for and that’s my guy. I’m happy for him. And now, whenever we play him, four times a year, he’s not my friend that day.”
Instead of matching Boston’s offer, the Knicks pivoted. Andre Drummond arrives on a fully guaranteed one-year minimum contract, a budget-friendly replacement. Jordan Clarkson also returns on a one-year minimum deal, fully guaranteed, and has waived his right to veto a trade.
New contracts balance guarantees and flexibility
New York’s offseason approach: multi-year deals with limited long-term guarantees. The front office has leaned on Bird-related exceptions and minimum-salary mechanisms, staying just under the second apron. Landry Shamet landed the largest new commitment, a four-year, $23,978,467 contract. Only part of his third year is guaranteed, and the fourth is a player option with a partial guarantee.
| Player | Contract | Key financial detail |
|---|---|---|
| Landry Shamet | Four years, $23,978,467 | Third year partially guaranteed, fourth-year player option |
| Jose Alvarado | Three years, $14,384,484 | Third year partially guaranteed |
| Mohamed Diawara | Four years, $11,279,212 | Third year non-guaranteed, fourth-year team option |
| Jordan Clarkson | One year, minimum salary | Fully guaranteed |
| Andre Drummond | One year, minimum salary | Fully guaranteed |
Shamet re-signed using Early Bird rights. Alvarado returned through Bird rights, and Diawara through Non-Bird rights. Partial guarantees, a non-guaranteed year, and a team option give New York flexibility in a high-spending tier.
Draft-night maneuvering brought in future assets and cash. In a four-team trade, the Knicks sent the rights to No. 24 pick Cameron Carr to the Lakers and received the rights to No. 47 pick Tyler Nickel, four future second-round picks, several international draft rights, and $5 million in cash from the Lakers and Suns. Later, New York picked up another $2.5 million from Detroit in exchange for Ugonna Onyenso’s draft rights.
Brunson underwent surgery in July to repair a tendon in his left wrist. With training camp approaching, he says he feels good. His message for the defending champions remains clear: “Last year was last year.”
