Knicks Reportedly Have Salary Cap Space for Vet Minimum Contract After Yabusele Deal

The New York Knicks still have a bit of financial flexibility to round out the team's 2025-26 roster after signing forward Guerschon Yabusele.

According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Yabusele signing for "a little less than" the full taxpayer mid-level exception of $5.7 million gives the Knicks room to add another player on a $2.23 million veteran minimum contract.

Yabusele agreed to a two-year deal worth roughly $12 million with New York on Tuesday.

His contract also contains a player option for the 2026-27 season.

The Knicks are now hard-capped at the $207.8 million second apron, meaning that they can only afford a veteran minimum contract and a second-round draft pick salary.

New York selected French forward Mohamed Diawara with the No. 51 overall choice in the 2025 NBA draft.

As for Yabusele, he's coming off a 2024-25 campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers in which he operated in a variety of roles. He played both power forward and center, while 43 of his 70 appearances came as a member of the 76ers' starting lineup.

Yabusele averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 steals per game on 50.1/38.0/72.5 shooting splits.

Among the available free agents that could sign for a veteran minimum deal, the Knicks have been linked to Ben Simmons and Russell Westbrook.

SNY's Ian Begley also reported that New York has had interest in sharpshooter Landry Shamet, who appeared in 50 games with the team last season.

The Knicks have been focused on building upon their run to the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, signing Jordan Clarkson in free agency and hiring Mike Brown as their head coach.