Knicks Reportedly Weighing 'Various Trade Scenarios' After Brogdon, Shamet Contracts
The New York Knicks are reportedly considering trade scenarios that would allow both Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet to play in New York next season.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Knicks "have begun to weigh various trade scenarios" that could clear enough space under the second apron in order to keep both Brogdon and Shamet on the roster.
The New York Post's Stefan Bondy similarly reported Friday that people around the NBA are "expecting the Knicks to make a move to have space to keep Brogdon" alongside either Shamet or Garrison Mathews, who recently signed a training camp deal with the team.
Fischer described trading 2024 first-round pick Pacome Dadiet as "one of the few possibilities that could be easily executed."
Because the Knicks are hard-capped below the second luxury tax apron this season, the team currently only has room for one veteran minimum contract in addition to Jordan Clarkson, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.
The team has a 14th roster spot left open, but only enough room under the hard cap to use it on a $1.2 million rookie minimum salary, per the Third Apron's Yossi Gozlan.
The Knicks reportedly signed both Brogdon and Shamet to non-guaranteed deals, per SNY's Ian Begley. Both are expected to get "strong consideration" for the roster spot, per Begley.
Deals without guaranteed money don't count against the luxury tax apron until the season starts, Marks reported.
By then, however, the Knicks will need to either part ways with Brogdon or Shamet, or else move another player off their roster, in order to get below the hard cap.
Dadiet was originally selected by the Knicks in the first round of the 2024 draft after agreeing to take 80 percent of the usual rookie-scale contract, per The Athletic's Fred Katz. He is set to cost $2.8 million against the cap next season, per Spotrac.
He struggled to make an impact when called on to play for the Knicks last season, averaging just 1.7 points through 18 games.
Another second-year player who could be considered a trade candidate by the Knicks is Tyler Kolek, a 2024 second-round pick who appeared in 41 games last season but similarly found himself outside the New York rotation. His contract is set to cost the Knicks about $2.1 million next season, per Spotrac.
Moving Kolek or Dadiet from the roster would help clear out playing time in a crowded backcourt for Shamet and Brogdon. It would also help clear out some cap space for a team that currently sits just $2.4 million below the second apron, per Spotrac.
Whatever the Knicks decide, there will be more roster movement in New York by the time the regular season tips off on Oct. 22 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
