The Knicks made two roster moves over the weekend, signing sharpshooter Matt Ryan (no, not the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback) and converting the center’s two-way deal rookie Ariel Hukporti to a standard NBA contract. With these additions, New York now has 14 players under contract as they work within the salary cap and seek roster flexibility for potential long-term moves.
Why the Knicks made these moves
Ariel Hukporti: strengthening the depth in the first zone
Drafted with the 58th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Hukporti – a 6-foot-11, 246-pound German-Togolese center – has already capitalized on limited opportunities, including with Mitchell Robinson (ankle surgery) and Precious Achiuwa (hamstring strain). sidelined. Behind Karl-Anthony Towns, Jericho Sims has served as the primary backup, but despite his explosive leaping ability, Sims has yet to deliver and is still looking for his breakout moment.
In his brief stints on the court, Hukporti has demonstrated a strong frame, quick decision-making from the high post and an aggressiveness that adds much-needed physicality to the Knicks’ interior defense. His three blocks in just 29 minutes of play stand out from Sims’ three blocks in 84 minutes, demonstrating his rim protection potential. With Achiuwa’s return imminent, Hukporti’s immediate role may be limited, but the Knicks are encouraged by his potential and have locked him up on a minimum contract.
Matt Ryan: Elite shooting to replace perimeter depth
With Landry Shamet sidelined indefinitely with a preseason shoulder injury, the Knicks needed another outside threat. Ryan fills that role, fresh off a season where he shot 45.1 percent from three-point range with the New Orleans Pelicans. At 6-foot-7, he offers a bit more size on the perimeter than Shamet, although he doesn’t bring the same defensive versatility that earned Shamet a spot in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation.
Ryan’s defensive reliability will be key in determining his minutes on a team with championship aspirations. Set to make $1.9 million this season, Ryan’s contract is non-guaranteed until Jan. 10, giving the Knicks some flexibility if other needs arise.
Distribution of staff and payroll
The Knicks’ payroll now stands at $188.4 million for the season, just $525,872 less than the $188.9 million second cap that caps their spending due to cumulative trade salaries. by Mikal Bridges and Towns.
Here is a breakdown of the Knicks’ payroll for the 2024-25 season:
- Karl-Anthony Cities: $49,205,800
- AND Anunoby: $36,637,932
- Jalen Brunson: $24,960,001
- Mikal Bridges: $23,300,000
- Josh Hart: $18,144,000
- Mitchell Robinson: $14,318,182
- Precious Achiuwa: $6,000,000
- Miles McBride: $4,710,144
- Jericho Sims: $2,092,344
- Cameron Payne: $2,087,519
- Tyler Kolek: $2,087,519
- Matt Ryan: $1,989,558
- Pacôme Dadiet: $1,808,080
- Ariel Hukporti: $1,064,049
Navigation in the hard cap of the second apron
Being limited to the second apron places strict roster-building restrictions on the Knicks, especially for a team that needs additional upgrades to stay competitive with the Boston Celtics and other top contenders.
These limitations include:
- No Salary Bundling: The Knicks cannot combine salaries in a single trade.
- No salary increase in trades: they cannot recover more than the outgoing salary in any transaction.
- No use of business exceptions: Previous business exceptions cannot be used, nor can new ones be created.
- No Sign-and-Trade: They are not able to acquire players via sign-and-trade, although most of these deals take place during the offseason.
Creative Solutions for Roster Flexibility
Despite these restrictions, the Knicks have several options to navigate the course:
- One-for-two trades: For example, they could trade Robinson ($14.3 million) for two players whose combined salaries are equal to or less than his outgoing amount, creating more depth in the hard cap.
- Multi-team deals: The Knicks can also engage in three- or four-team trades, sending one player to each participating team. For example, they could trade Sims for a second-round pick and, if necessary, move Kolek for a first-round pick. They could then leverage those draft picks to sweeten any deals involving Robinson or other players, opening up cap space.
What’s next for the Knicks?
With a front office led by Leon Rose and a salary cap expert in Brock Aller, the Knicks have shown they aren’t afraid to get creative in pursuit of a title.
The addition of Hukporti and Ryan adds depth and addresses immediate needs while maintaining a level of flexibility. And with critical trade restrictions in place, the Knicks will have to use every tool in their kit to build a roster aimed at delivering New York its first NBA championship since 1973.
