New York Knicks owner James Dolan said Wednesday that he will not go into the punitive second apron to keep his team together for the 2026-27 season, even after it won its first NBA title in 53 years.
"We cannot go into the second apron," Dolan said on WFAN radio in New York.
If any team surpasses that threshold, it is limited in what it can do in free agency and other roster-building mechanisms. Only the Cleveland Cavaliers exceeded the threshold this past season.
According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Knicks are projected to be $13 million below the second apron this summer. Rotation players Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet are free agents. Jose Alvarado could be, too; he has until Monday to opt in to a $4.5 million player option for next season.