Examining Knicks' Salary Cap, Decisions for 2026 NBA Free Agency after Finals Win
The New York Knicks entered the 2025-26 season hoping that a bit of change would spark a deeper playoff run.
It turns out, they got exactly what they were hoping for.
Despite reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025, the Knicks decided to part ways with coach Tom Thibodeau. He was replaced by Mike Brown, who immediately found success with a talented roster.
Led by the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, and Mikal Bridges, New York was again one of the top contenders in the East. If anyone was worried about a sudden drop-off post-Thibodeau, it never happened.
In fact, the Knicks seemed to learn from their previous shortcomings and went on a historic playoff run. A sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals led to a showdown with the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals. New York quickly made it apparent that it was the better team.
Now that the Knicks have won their first NBA Championship in more than a half-century, it's time for team president Leon Rose and senior VP Gersson Rosas to start prepping for Year 2 of the Brown era. Cap constraints may come into play this offseason, but New York has a solid foundation for sustained uccess.
Here, you'll find a look at the Knicks' projected cap situation, contract decisions, and potential targets for 2026 free agency.
2026 Salary Cap
1 of 3
The good news for the Knicks is that their core five—Brunson, Townes, Bridges, Anunoby, and Josh Hart—are set to be under contract next season. The bad news is that New York has just eight players scheduled to be under contract.
Jose Alvarado will have a player option.
While Rosas and team president Leon Rose won't need to focus on adding centerpiece players this offseason, filling out the roster could still be tricky. New York is projected to be just $3.5 million below the first luxury-tax apron and $16.5 million below the more restrictive second apron.
If and when New York goes over the second apron, it will be unable to aggregate contracts to trade for a single player, send out cash in trades, use trade exceptions from previous years, or take back salary than it gives in a trade.
Avoiding the second apron could be tricky once the roster is fleshed out, and New York will largely be limited to adding rookie deals and league minimum contracts, regardless.
Fortunately, the Knicks are slated to have one first-rounder and two second-round picks in what is expected to be a deep 2026 draft. The chances of adding a quality role player in June are real.
Top Contract Decisions
2 of 3
With their core players locked-up, the Knicks' biggest decisions will involve impending free agents like Mitchell Robinson.
Robinson has been a valuable contributor, especially as a rebounder. However, his injury history can't be ignored, and bringing him back via an extension or in free agency will likely put New York over the second apron. It's a tricky situation, though SNY's Rafael Canton believes a Robinson return is likely.
"With only a few teams having significant cap space, it's more than likely that Robinson and the Knicks extend their partnership past this season either through an extension or in free agency," Canton wrote.
Jordan Clarkson, Landry Shamet, and Jeremy Sochan are also set to be unrestricted free agents. Alvarado could opt out and hit the market, and Mohamed Diawara, Ariel Hukporti, Trey Jemison, Dillon Jones, and Kevin McCullar Jr. loom as restricted free agents.
Free Agents to Pursue
3 of 3
Fans should expect the Knicks to be quiet in free agency, given their cap situation. Bringing back Robinson would be considered a win, and that might even be difficult.
Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley tapped Robinson as a "dream" free-agent target for New York.
"Outside of minimum shopping, New York must find a way to keep Robinson, whom OG Anunoby described as 'a special player' and added '(there's) no one like him in the league,'" Buckley wrote. "Robinson's availability is always iffy, and his scoring range extends as far as his arms can reach, but he really is a game-changing presence on the glass and around the basket."
Buckley also mentioned Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland as possible free-agent options. Luke Kennard and Collin Sexton could be other names to watch, though plenty will be determined by which side of the second apron in which they land.
