NBA 2026 Offseason Check-In: New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have navigated a cost-conscious 2026 offseason following their first championship in 53 years, adhering to owner James Dolan’s directive to avoid surpassing the second tax apron. Their first moves came during the draft, where they traded down multiple times from the 24th overall pick. A four-team deal netted them the 47th pick (Tyler Nickel), four future second-rounders, and $5MM in cash. Additional draft-day trades saw them swap the 31st and 55th selections with Houston for the 39th and 53rd picks and a future second-rounder, before selling the 53rd pick to Detroit for $2.5MM. German guard Jack Kayil, selected 39th, showed promise in Summer League but ultimately signed a five-year deal with ALBA Berlin due to a buyout clause, making him a draft-and-stash prospect.

Entering free agency with all five starters under contract, the Knicks faced the departure of ten reserves. They successfully re-signed several key contributors on team-friendly deals: Jose Alvarado (three years, $14.4MM), Landry Shamet (four years, $24MM), Jordan Clarkson (minimum salary), and restricted free agent Mohamed Diawara (four years, $11.3MM) via Non-Bird rights. However, they were unwilling to pay veteran center Mitchell Robinson enough to retain him, and he signed a three-year, $47.4MM contract with the rival Boston Celtics. To partially replace Robinson’s production, the Knicks added veteran center Andre Drummond on a one-year, minimum-salary deal.

The front office also lost depth in the frontcourt: Ariel Hukporti departed to Philadelphia, Trey Jemison signed a two-way deal with Toronto, and Jeremy Sochan joined Portland on a non-guaranteed contract. Dillon Jones and Kevin McCullar Jr. remain unrestricted free agents. New York explored trades for young centers on affordable contracts, including Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic of the Pelicans and Moussa Diabate of the Hornets, and even signed restricted free agent Moussa Cisse to a two-year, minimum offer sheet before Dallas matched it.

As the regular season approaches, the Knicks hold 13 players on guaranteed standard contracts and sit about $3.3MM below the second apron, making it likely they will carry 14 players rather than a full 15-man roster. They still hold the rights to unsigned draft pick Tyler Nickel; signing him to a rookie minimum would carry a $1.36MM cap hit, but that move appears unlikely. The team is set to begin its title defense with a cost-effective roster built to stay under the luxury tax threshold.

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