The New York Knicks have taken a strategic step forward by securing Jose Alvarado on a three-year deal worth over $14 million. This move is a calculated one, providing a touch more wiggle room for the upcoming 2026-27 season. With the Knicks hovering near the second apron of $222 million, and owner James Dolan keen on not surpassing it, every dollar saved could be crucial for the team that just clinched the 2026 NBA championship.
Alvarado's new contract comes in at $4.293 million for the next season, offering the Knicks a modest cap relief of about $200,000 compared to his declined $4.5 million player option. While not a game-changer, this savings could play a role in their larger financial puzzle.
Reflecting on the roster since their championship victory, the Knicks are bringing back key players like Mohamed Diawara, who is expected to step up next season, alongside Alvarado. However, Knicks fans might need to brace themselves for some changes.
The entire championship roster likely won't return intact. The future of either Mitchell Robinson or Landry Shamet with the team remains uncertain.
Although the Knicks could technically offer Robinson around $15 million, there's buzz about him potentially receiving offers north of $25 million annually, which could be a deal-breaker.
Currently, the Knicks have 10 players under contract. Adding Robinson would make it 11, leaving them needing three more players, likely on veteran or rookie minimums, costing at least an additional $4.5 million against the cap.
If Robinson decides to move on, the Knicks might look to re-sign Shamet using the taxpayer mid-level exception (MLE), costing $6.083 million. This figure seems low, considering Shamet's contributions and the interest he likely generated.
With Shamet's Early Bird Rights, the Knicks could technically offer him 105% of the league average salary, roughly $15 million annually. However, offering Shamet $10 million for 2026-27 might bring its own set of challenges.
To make this work, the Knicks could fill out the roster with rookie minimum deals, splitting $6.5 million across three spots. However, they would still need a replacement for Robinson.
Ariel Hukporti could be an option, with a minimum cap hit of $2.5 million for 2026-27, leaving about $4 million for two additional players. This scenario raises questions about the depth and experience at the end of the bench if Hukporti is the primary backup center, with Kevin McCullar and a rookie rounding out the roster.
Is Shamet willing to take slightly less than $10 million? It's possible.
The Knicks might also consider trading Pacome Dadiet, Miles McBride, or Tyler Kolek. Kolek appears the most expendable, but swapping his contract for a rookie minimum saves less than $1 million.
Trading McBride would mean a real talent loss, while Dadiet remains a bit of an enigma with potential upside.
The Knicks must finalize their roster strategy to remain a formidable contender and hope Shamet is patient throughout the process. Re-signing Alvarado was a vital move, keeping a reliable backup point guard in New York without adding to the 2026-27 salary.
However, this hasn't significantly increased their cap flexibility. The Knicks are still faced with intricate cap maneuvers, and they need to execute them perfectly to maintain their championship aspirations.
If they stumble, their chances of becoming the first repeat champions in eight years could diminish rapidly.
In Other News...
Knicks Just Saw A Major Mitchell Robinson Threat Fade Away
The market around Mitchell Robinson looks a lot quieter than it did a few days ago. Brooklyns decision to re-sign DayRon Sharpe and install him as its starting center takes one obvious suitor out of the chase, and several other teams that had been mentioned as possible landing spots have also started to drift away from the picture.
For the Knicks, that should make the retention conversation feel a little less frantic, at least on the surface. The challenge has not disappeared, though, because keeping Robinson still has to fit inside New Yorks financial guardrails, and that means the front office has to thread a narrow path if it wants to avoid losing a valuable piece while also preserving flexibility for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Suddenly Have A Surprising Backup Plan For A Familiar Problem
Jonathan Isaac suddenly finds himself back in the conversation after the Magic waived him to clear the books following Paolo Bancheros rookie max extension. For a Knicks team that has spent plenty of time chasing defensive versatility and frontcourt size, the move creates an interesting market wrinkle around a player whose value has long been tied to what he can do on that end of the floor.
There is, of course, a clear catch. Isaacs recent injury history and limited availability have been part of the reason his price tag could be much more manageable than his talent might suggest, which is exactly why he may end up drawing attention from teams looking for help without a major financial commitment. For New York, the appeal is obvious enough: a familiar kind of problem in the frontcourt, and a possible answer that would not require a heavy lift. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks May Hold A Quiet Edge In Their Center Search
The Knicks are keeping an eye on the center market, and Kevon Looney has emerged as a name worth tracking as free agency approaches. League reports suggest the veteran big man is expected to have his New Orleans team option declined, which would push him into unrestricted free agency and immediately put several contenders on notice. New Yorks interest makes sense on paper, especially with the kind of steady frontcourt piece the Knicks are expected to monitor this summer.
Looney also appears to be on the radar of other teams, including Boston and Golden State, which means the Knicks will not be operating in a quiet lane. Still, there is some real familiarity here, and SNYs Ian Begley has reported that the interest runs both ways. If the Knicks are looking for an edge in a crowded center search, this is the kind of situation where relationships can matter almost as much as the market itself. [Read more 🡒]