New York (WFAN) - Summer 2019 might not include the New York Knicks landing a big-name free agent as most people expect, according to the NY Post.
Instead, the Knicks preference could end up being developing their current young talent, along with whoever their lottery pick ends up being. The Knicks stand at 9-25, and are expected to land somewhere in the top five in the 2019 NBA Draft. Mix the development of Allonzo Trier, Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox, and Frank Ntilikina with the return of Kristaps Porzingis, and the summer may not be as exciting as some fans would hope.
The Knicks are $32 million under the cap, meaning they would have to open up $6 million for the maximum $38 million contract slot. The Knicks hope they can potentially deal Courtney Lee and his one-year, $12.7 million remaining on his contract by the summer.
Knicks president Steve Mills had this to say Friday about their plans:
"We are in a position if we need to find a slot for a max salary we can do that,'' Mills said. "Our focus is on the guys that we have right now, developing them, and also developing the environment, or the culture, that exists around our team. If we don't make this a place the guys internally feel something good is happening and believe in what we're doing, that's not going to be attractive to people who are on the outside,'' Mills added. "Our guys have to feel it and then they [free agents] have to hear about it and see it in how our guys are interacting with us. The plan is that we develop an environment that free agents should want to be here."
It's way too early to make assumptions, meaning the Knicks would gladly take someone like Kevin Durant or Kemba Walker if they decided to come to New York. But it is interesting to hear that it may not be the end-all, be-all for the franchise if they don't. 2019 is the real salivating free-agent class, while 2020 doesn't offer anywhere near the same names.
