For only the third time since it was established – in the 1984-85 season – the NBA salary cap will shrink as a result of the economic impact of the coronavirus. Currently set at 109.1 million dollars the threshold within which the teams are not called to pay a luxury tax, the projections for the next year – instead of growth – are of a decrease of this figure before the start of the 2019 season- 20, as had happened only in 2002 and 2009. This is what is given for certain by some sources reported by the New York Post, which does not fail to associate the news with the umpteenth flame of hope for the Knicks fans.
With the prospect of facing moments of economic crisis, many franchises could be more willing to get rid of particularly heavy contracts, in order to avoid paying excessive amounts in luxury tax. One of these contracts – in the NBA is well known – is that of Chris Paul (almost 160 million dollars for 4 years, two still to be paid): the Thunder – who already in the past have let go of James Harden in order not to pay the luxury tax – could save over $ 41 million by disposing of their point guard contract.
Whose former agent – they point out in New York – is that Leon Rose who recently took command of operations in the front office of the Knicks. Paul (of course, no longer very young, at 35) could be his first shot, waiting to play a leading role on the 2021 free agent market, where the goal – of everyone and not just the Knicks – is to snatch Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.