The New York Knicks are currently in salary-cap purgatory, but if they want to free themselves there is only one way.
The Knicks remain tied to both bringing back Landry Shamet and potentially signing Ben Simmons to veteran-minimum deals, but to do so they would have to part with at least one guaranteed contract, according to SNY NBA insider and Knicks beat writer Ian Begley.
Begley floated the idea of the Knicks signing Simmons, and retaining Shamet — who is a free agent — on his most recent episode of “The Putback,” his SNY-branded web series.
How Can The Knicks Re-Sign Landry Shamet?
The Knicks have just 12 roster players under contract but only have $3.7 million cap space with which to work. For Shamet to fit, that would that would take up about $3 million in space if he signs for the veteran minimum.
Begley reported there is mutual interest between Shamet and the Knicks, yet as has been the case throughout Shamet’s seven-year NBA journeyman tenure where he has donned six different uniforms, cap considerations may squeeze him out of New York — unless the Knicks are willing to dip into the dreaded second apron of the salary cap.
Still, Begley cited Shamet’s success in New York last season, since he shot 40 percent on 3-pointers and averaged about six points per game over 50 games after missing the first three months with a shoulder injury.
“I think there’s a lot of support internally for bringing Shamet back,” Begley said. “I think there’s a lot of respect for what he did last year with that shoulder injury, getting back on the floor. … There’s a comfort with Shamet, a respect for Shamet in that locker room.
“I would assume that he’d be back.”
Begley also cited the interest in Simmons, the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year and mercurial guard/forward who spent the 2024-25 season split between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.
He could be had on the cheap — Simmons has already made more than $200 million over his nine NBA seasons despite playing in just 383 games while missing two full seasons plus parts of four others with injuries.
Yet, Begley also discussed what would need to happen for Simmons to fit at his veteran minimum number.
“The only way to do that is to make a trade,” he said. “You can’t do it any other way. You have to open up a spot if you wanted to bring in another veteran’s minimum.
“We’ve reported about Ben Simmons. There’s still interest there. But in order to bring in a Simmons, or anybody else, if you do do Shamet, you’d have to make a trade.”
Who Would The Knicks Trade To Make Room For Two Veterans?
Begley, and episode guest Keith Smith, got in the weeds with the potential rookie deals the Knicks could make to fill out their roster but did not speculate who the Knicks might offload in a trade.
New York has a surplus of guards, and Deuce McBride is probably the most valuable in a trade, though he is a fan favorite and was an important member of its rotation last season. If not McBride, then Tyler Kolek would likely be the other player to go — with New York bringing back draft capital or less money.
Still, Smith did float the potential for the Knicks to go above the second apron but only temporarily.
“The second apron is like Las Vegas,” Smith said. “It’s fun to visit for a little bit, but if you stay there too long it’s going to get really expensive and it’s going to get really painful.
“If you dip into the second apron for a year or two, you’re OK. … You just have to have an exit plan.”
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