James Dolan wants to keep the band together, but the New York Knicks owner isn't willing to go into the second apron to do so.
"There's certain things in the NBA that you have to be suicidal to do, and we're not gonna do those. One of them is called the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron," Dolan said Wednesday on WFAN's "The Craig Carton Show."
Dolan added: "I'll write as big of a check as possible, but I can't write a check that goes into the second apron."
New York is $16.5 million below the second apron entering the offseason, per Spotrac. While the Knicks' core is under contract for the 2026-27 campaign, the team has some important financial decisions to make this summer.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride are all eligible for extensions. Reserve guards Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson are set to hit the market alongside backup center Mitchell Robinson. Jose Alvarado could also become an unrestricted free agent if he declines his $4.5-million player option for next season.
Going into the second apron would limit the ways New York could build out its roster. The Knicks wouldn't be able to aggregate contracts in a trade, use more than 100% of the traded player exception, or send out cash in a trade. They also couldn't deal away their 2034 first-round pick.
