Knicks Cap Space : How much are the Knicks spending right now, and can they afford to have Russell Westbrook?
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The New York Knicks are one of the few teams in the NBA which have been in their rebuilding phase for so long. Their rebuild started the day when they traded Carmelo Anthony, and it became official when they traded away their unicorn Kristaps Porzingis. They were very close to having it all back, as they almost signed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last season, who ended up going to the Nets.
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With Russell Westbrook asking for a trade from the Houston Rockets, the Knicks are one of the frontrunners in his pursuit. Even though there have been conflicting statements recently, but it is still believed that the Knicks want Brodie.
Do the Knicks have the salary cap to sign Russell Westbrook?
The Knicks recently declined team option on Bobby Portis and waived Elfrid Payton and Taj Gibson. With this move, the Knicks have made opened up $33.40 million in their salary slab. They are paying around a guaranteed $54.5 million for the season, and an inclusive total of $68.92 million.
With the salary cap set at $109.14 for the upcoming season, this move could have been a way of the Knicks making cap space for Russell Westbrook.
New York Knicks created over $40mil in salary-cap space Thursday by parting ways with six veteran players. The Knicks announced that they waived forward Taj Gibson and guards Elfrid Payton and Wayne Ellington and declined the $15.75 million team option on forward Bobby Portis.
— MrTopNews (@MrTopNews1) November 20, 2020
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The Knicks would have to trade some players and future picks for Brodie, and in a way, that could open up space for the hefty $41 million contract that comes with him. They surely can afford Russell Westbrook as of today, but the main question is, do they want to?
It would be interesting to see what the future holds for the Knicks and for Russell Westbrook.