New York Knicks: 5 predictions for the 2018-19 NBA season
1. The Knicks create as much cap space as possible
New York is a big-market team and most players would love to play in a city like that. Your marketability rises, your amount of fans skyrockets and it’s just a much nicer city to live in.
As a result, the Knicks have been heavily linked with some of the top free agents of 2019, including Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler. And for the first time, these rumors might not be just speculation.
Joakim Noah won’t be a part of the team for much longer. Whether he departs by trade or by a buyout, the Knicks will be relieved from his contract possibly before the season begins.
Additionally, the team should look for possible trade candidates for Courtney Lee, as well as Lance Thomas, as the two of them without adding salary in return would free up $20 million in cap space.
Trading away role players is a risk the Knicks should definitely be willing to take, especially when the reward could be that one of the best players in the world signs for your team in the upcoming free agency.
The two All-Stars are good friends and there is a good chance that they would want to team up next offseason when their respective contracts expire.
New York Knicks fans, buckle your seat belts. It could be happening.