Knicks Free Agent Decisions
Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet are the Knicks’ top free agents. The problem for the Knicks is that both players are in line for a slight pay raise. Robinson is expected to garner plenty of attention this summer on the open market.
Robinson made $12.9 million this past season and is projected to receive between $13 and $15 million this year as part of a multi-year deal. Meanwhile, Shamet is coming off a career season and came up big several times for the Knicks in the playoffs. Shamet made $2.29 million this past season and is projected to make between $3 and $4 million this upcoming campaign.
If Alvardo opts in and Robinson and Shamet re-sign, it will likely put the Knicks at or over the second apron with at least two open roster spots. Jordan Clarkson and Jeremy Sochan are also unrestricted free agents. Meanwhile, Mo Diawara and Ariel Hukporti will be restricted free agents if they are offered a QO. The Knicks own the No. 24, No. 31 and No. 55 picks.
Don’t expect the Knicks to go over the second apron. While the Knicks could start the season over the second apron, it would not be ideal as it would limit their ability to make moves during the season. Also, the owner, James Dolan, wants them to avoid that realm.
“There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do,” Dolan said on the CartonShow on WFAN yesterday. “One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron. I’ll write as big a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”
“There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron. I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”
– James Dolan on @CartonShowWFAN pic.twitter.com/KJFIccCnMf
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 17, 2026
