On Saturday, the NBA and NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement that could change how the New York Knicks approach the offseason as it will start with the 2023-24 season.
Part of the changes to the existing CBA is a second tax apron that sits $17.5 million above the luxury tax line. If a team goes above that second apron, there are restrictions put in place that will prevent what that team can/can’t do in terms of roster construction.
With the Knicks currently sitting less than $4 million under the luxury tax, the front office will have to be careful about how they approach their future plans under the new CBA. The good news is that Leon Rose and Co., as other front offices around the league, were made aware beforehand of the changes to the existing CBA.
During the offseason, it’d do New York good to shed some salary while simultaneously deciding what to do with players that they want to sign to new deals.
5 New York Knicks players that could be impacted by new CBA
5: Josh Hart
New York sent a protected first-round to Portland for Josh Hart and the front office didn’t do so under the hope that he’d be nothing more than a rental. Hart was born to be a Knick.
He’s expected to opt out of his $12.96 million player option for 2023-24 in favor of a multi-year deal, which will mean that he’ll become a free agent. Hart’s repeatedly said that he wants to be in New York, so fans shouldn’t worry about him signing elsewhere, although it will certainly be a possibility.
Hart should be one of the Knicks’ priorities during the offseason. New York does own his Bird Rights, which will help the organization retain him. If he does sign a new contract with the Knicks this summer, it could fall somewhere in the $16-$18 million range per year, which would be good for both him and the team.
with Julius Randle sidelined</a>, but he doesn’t deserve to be delegated to the bench for yet another season in 2023-24.</p>
<p>Since the Knicks picked up his fourth-year option earlier in the year, Toppin is set to make $6.8 million next season. With the Knicks potentially giving new deals to Hart and Quickley during the offseason, Toppin isn’t a priority.</p>
<p>He could be thrown into a trade package over the summer for a star player whose identity is yet to be known. New York’s made its commitment to Randle, so unless there’s a drastic change, the front office would be smart to find a trade partner for Toppin this summer.</p>
<p>With both Toppin and IQ becoming extension eligible, the choice has boiled down to either or. Based on the leap that Quickley has made in year three, he’s the answer to that question. Don’t forget that Quentin Grimes will be the next extension eligible player for the Knicks, so the front office will have a couple of tough decisions to make this summer. Toppin’s possible departure will be one of them.</p>
<p>New York has to be cautious when signing players to new deals given the team’s young talent, and unfortunately, Obi Toppin should be on the move.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/04/06/5-knicks-future-affected-new-cba/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A veteran that's taken on a leadership role </a>
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a trade</a> much easier.</p>
<p>The Knicks should be able to get Fournier off their books to a team that’s in need of a three-point shooter. His 32% average that he’s shooting from three this season is far from being impressive, but he’s played in only 24 games. In the 80 games that he played in 2021-22, he shot 38.9% and broke New York’s single-season record for three-pointers made.</p>
<p>It’s past time for the Knicks to go their separate ways with Evan Fournier. He’s been a true professional during his time in New York and that’s something that fans should appreciate, but he no longer has a role on the team, especially one that warrants being paid nearly $20 million.</p>
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