Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks owner James Dolan and the players celebrate after defeating the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Knicks owner James Dolan had a knack for opening his mouth and creating headlines throughout his team’s magical run to a first NBA title in 53 years. So, just before they were to load up the trucks for their first-ever ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes, why stop now?
Dolan appeared on WFAN and teased significant roster changes this summer, as he implored that the team “cannot go into the second apron,” a salary cap of sorts that penalizes franchises that exceed it.
“If we could bring back the whole team, exactly as is, why wouldn’t you?” Dolan said. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to… We’re willing to stretch, but there are certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron.”
The majority of New York’s core is already under contract for next season. Karl-Anthony Towns is due $57 million, OG Anunoby $42.5 million, Jalen Brunson $37.7 milion, Mikal Bridges $33.4 million, and Josh Hart $20.9 million. Add in the contracts of Miles McBride and Jose Alvarado, and that accounts for a total of $200 million.
The second apron is set at $222 million, leaving $22 million to fill the final seven roster spots.
That means some significant rotational postseason heroes may be wandering the wilderness that is the NBA’s free agency. Mitchell Robinson is without a contract, as is Landry Shamet. Free agency begins on June 30.
Luckily for Dolan, team president Leon Rose — the architect of this team — will be pulling the strings.
“I’ll write as big a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron,” Dolan warned.
For more on James Dolan and the Knicks, visit AMNY.com
