The New York Knicks are among a handful of teams that are said to be looking to add a trade machine to their arsenal this offseason.
According to a report by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Knicks are reportedly looking to acquire the services of a trade agent and the ability to trade for a player’s salary cap space, sources told Shelburnes.
The report states that the Knicks “are willing to pay at least $50 million for an agent and $75 million for salary cap room in order to acquire a draft pick, but they have no interest in trading any draft picks.”
While the Knicks might be looking for help, sources indicate that they are not currently shopping a specific player, rather they are trying to find the perfect fit for the team, who is currently ranked 25th in the NBA.
The team’s current cap situation is said to include an estimated $30 million in dead money due to the trade deadline and $25 million in cap space.
According for the Knicks, they have the financial flexibility to trade players for the salary cap, and also have the cap space to use on draft picks and free agents.
The New York Times reported that the team is interested in trading for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, which is currently being held by the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, the report also stated that the New York Post is reporting that the Celtics are reportedly interested in acquiring the first pick in that draft, and the New Orleans Pelicans are also said to have interest in the first overall pick.
If the Knicks do acquire the first and second overall picks, the team could also consider adding to the salary pool to give them some flexibility to use the draft on other players.
The Knicks are currently projected to have approximately $42 million in salary cap and roughly $40 million in free agency money, according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard.