The New York Knicks have messed up a lot in free agency over the years, offering up some of the worst contracts the league has ever seen.
Being a big market team comes with its advantages. The New York Knicks are as far as it can go when it comes to being a big market team. Given that they are housed in the brightest city on earth, free agency contract negotiations should be at least a bit easier, right?
Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear to be the case for the Knicks, who have struggled a ton when it comes to luring free agents. Most people would immediately point their fingers at the organization and the ownership, quite frankly being pretty much accurate.
The franchise’s issues with recruiting have led to two different kinds of struggles. The first one is not being a serious enough franchise that the top free agents would want to avoid taking their talents to New York. The most recent example of the 2019 free agency period immediately comes to mind.
Woj clarifies the rumor that the Knicks didn’t offer Durant a max contract. Says Knicks didn’t get a chance to talk to Durant, who chose the Nets because Kyrie Irving wanted to go to Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/mb8tJ9OUXN
— The Knicks Wall (@TheKnicksWall) July 1, 2019
The second one, and the topic of discussion right here, is being forced to hilariously overpay certain stars, hoping that they would at least consider permanently moving to Madison Square Garden.
Luckily enough, 201 did not see the Knicks overpay for any free agents. Even though some may say that Bobby Portis and Taj Gibson got much larger contracts than they deserve, it should be noted that the team-options could terminate their deals earlier if needed.
breaking: new york knicks sign stanley hudson to a 4-year $110 million deal. “we got the guy we wanted all along” said team officials pic.twitter.com/YJxX9stvuk
— Bob Vulfov (@bobvulfov) July 1, 2019
As the 2020 free agency approaches, every team reminisces about the best contracts in franchise history. Let’s carry onto that tradition by discussing the worst contracts in Knicks history. Over the years, there have been quite a few and it seems like it can’t get any worse.
P.S. to the Knicks organization: This is not a challenge, please.
Honorable mentions: Jerome James (5 years, $30 million), Larry Brown (5 years, $60 million)