BOSTON — The Knicks’ salary cap situation looks perfect as of today.
But big decisions and initiatives are at hand.
Beyond the obvious free agency of OG Anunoby and the unpredictable trade market of the summer, the team’s two All-Stars, Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, will be eligible for extensions after this season.
For Branson, the order of operations is very clear.
The Knicks should offer him the maximum extension possible and hope he signs.
Brunson is in the second year of a team-friendly four-year, $104 million contract, but could earn more if he waits until unrestricted free agency in 2025.
According to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, Brunson’s contract extension this summer is for up to four years and $156.5 million (average annual salary of $39.1 million).
The free agent cap in 2025 is five years and $258 million (average annual salary of $51.6).
It’s a big difference, but as the numbers show, waiting for free agency is not an easy decision.
By obtaining the extension, Brunson would be eligible for a second maximum extension sooner, thereby narrowing the difference in amounts over time.
With the security of a contract, it’s hard to imagine a better place for Branson than New York. He’s emerging as a marketing force (he just appeared in an AT&T commercial) and playing alongside his college friends (the Villanova crew was featured on the latest cover of Slam Magazine ).
Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo are both under contract through 2027.
“So security is obviously something we want to make sure we have,” Branson said. Even if Brunson were to become an All-NBA player, he would not be eligible for a supermax extension because he signed with the Knicks as a free agent. “But I’m just focused on finishing the season and doing my best to get everyone back healthy and doing my part. That’s what’s on my mind and I’ll think about that later.” intend to.”
Randall’s situation is more complicated.
The power forward’s cap extension exceeds Brunson’s roughly four-year, $190 million deal ($47.5 million average).
His production, including three All-Star appearances in four years, suggests Randle is worth further investment.
However, the 29-year-old also just underwent shoulder surgery, his second in less than a year, and the Knicks supplemented Brunson’s production offensively with added weight.
From a team perspective, extending Randle doesn’t make much sense.
Heading into Thursday’s game against the Celtics, the Knicks were 18-15 without him.
Brunson and Anunoby went 5-1 in the games they played together without Randle.
Additionally, according to the collective bargaining agreement, Randle’s extension would come with six months of trade restrictions if the increase exceeds 5%.
That could prevent deals past next year’s trade deadline.
According to Forbes, if Randle does not get an extension and becomes a free agent in 2025, he will be eligible to sign a five-year contract worth more than $300 million with the Knicks.
To reach that number, he would have to decline his $32.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
Brunson has a player option for 2025-26 worth about $25 million.
The Knicks and their top players have a lot to think about after the season.
