NEW YORK — The Knicks spent decades trying to build a championship roster and have now encountered the natural consequence of succeeding:
everyone would like money.
Following their title run, New York has entered extension discussions with several important members of the roster while simultaneously attempting to avoid the NBA’s second apron, a financial boundary designed specifically to punish teams for becoming too expensive after becoming too good.
Team officials reportedly consider the timing rude.
“We finally got everybody we wanted,” one fictional Knicks executive said. “Apparently that means we have to pay everybody we wanted.”
Karl-Anthony Towns has been discussing a new deal. Miles McBride would like to remain in New York. Josh Hart’s future finances are also part of the equation.
Meanwhile, ownership has reportedly shown little enthusiasm for crossing deeper into the league’s most restrictive spending territory.
The result is a delicate championship-budget exercise in which New York must keep the players responsible for winning the title without paying championship-level prices for all of them.
Accountants have been promoted into the rotation.
Several spreadsheets are now considered untouchable.
The Knicks finally reached the top of the NBA.
Unfortunately, the second apron was waiting there.
