The NBA trade deadline is approaching, and the New York Knicks are open for business.
The Knicks are making both Tim Hardaway Jr and Courtney Lee available in trade talks, according to the New York Times’ Marc Stein.
The Knicks are looking to shed some payroll if possible to have cap space for a run at top free agents over the summer. Hardaway Jr is earning $17.3 million this season, $18.1 million next season, and has a player option for $18.9 million the season after that. Lee is making $12.2 million this season and $12.7 million next season.
On top of Hardaway Jr and Lee, Enes Kanter, who is in the final season of his deal and earning $18.6 million, is not happy with his role on the team.
Hardway and Kanter both made our list of 10 players who could be traded ahead of the deadline. A big challenge for the Knicks will be dealing any of these players without attaching some sort of draft pick or player compensation to make the salary dump more desirable for an acquiring team. The franchise is looking forward to a future highlighted by Kristaps Porzingis and a top player they draft this year (Zion Williamson, anyone?).
