Knicks’ Owner’s Second-Apron Proclamation Would Impact Key Rotation Players

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – JUNE 13: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates with the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award trophy and New York Knicks owner James Dolan after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Getty Images

If Knicks owner James Dolan remains true to his word about not going into the NBA’s second apron, it would prohibit the team from retaining several key rotation pieces.

The Knicks would not be able to keep backup center Mitchell Robinson and reserve guard Landry Shamet, both of whom are unrestricted free agents. Knicks reserve point guard Jose Alvarado also has until Monday to opt in to a $4.5 million player option for next season, per ESPN.com.

“We cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said Wednesday on WFAN radio in New York, when he also announced the Knicks would visit President Trump at the White House.

The Knicks are celebrating their first NBA championship since 1973 with a victory parade in New York City on Thursday.

Per ESPN, the Knicks “were just $200,000 under the second apron this past season.” ESPN’s Bobby Marks confirmed the Knicks are projected to be $13 million under the second apron next season.

All five starters from the 2025-26 season are under contract for at least two more seasons, but Dolan’s announcement would mean changes on the bench.

“If Jim Dolan is to be taken at that edict, there will be no Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet back,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Thursday on “Get Up.”

“The Knicks have huge spending on their front line, as they should, and they will not be able to retain those players without going into the second apron. Now they have an excellent strategy department led by Brock Aller…They will figure out ways to maximize this. And the second apron is indeed suicidal sometimes, but if you have a championship team, going into the second apron for a year would not be considered outrageous. Maybe Jim Dolan reconsiders after going through the parade today.”

Per ESPN, only the Cleveland Cavaliers were over the second apron this past season. Teams avoid it for good reason.

Via ESPN, if the Knicks went into the second apron: “they wouldn’t be allowed to send cash in a trade, use the $6.1 million tax midlevel exception on a free agent, aggregate salaries in a trade or use more than 100% of the traded player exception.

“A team also can’t trade its first-round pick seven years out if it finishes a season over the second apron.”

Asked about the second apron on WFAN, Dolan said: “I don’t know if we’ll be able to. We’re willing to stretch, but there’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron.”

Dolan also received some criticism for making his comments just after the championship victory and ahead of the parade.

“Can we at least wait until the parade happens to break up the title team?” ESPN’s Tim McMahon said on “Get Up.”

The Knicks also have contract issues with Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Deuce McBride looming.

Towns is owed $118 million over two years, but it’s one guaranteed year and a player option, and Hart is owed $43.2 million over two years.

“Towns is in position to get a contract extension,” Windhorst said. “In this situation in past years, the Knicks have extended guys like Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson. And KAT’s max number is almost $70 million a year, four years and $272 million. Can they get him to take a haircut off that, like the way they got Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges to take less. That could be a factor.”

The Knicks have the fourth-shortest odds (+650) at DraftKings to win the 2027 NBA title behind the Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics.