KAT’s pay cut is Knicks’ all-in bet to break 50-year title drought
Karl-Anthony Towns’ voluntary pay cut frees up $20M+ in cap space, giving the Knicks a third-star runway without crossing the luxury-tax line.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ voluntary pay cut frees up $20M+ in cap space, giving the Knicks a third-star runway without crossing the luxury-tax line.
6M for the 2024-25 season, a move that immediately unlocks roughly $15M in cap space and shifts the Knicks’ championship timeline forward. 8M agreement with a player option for 2027-28, giving New York financial leverage without surrendering its core. The Knicks had been capped out at $141M before the move, leaving little room to retain Jalen Brunson or pursue external upgrades; now they sit at roughly $126M, per Spotrac, with the ability to absorb another max contract or absorb salary in a trade without triggering the second apron.
Towns’ decision reflects a broader shift in NBA roster construction, where star players increasingly prioritize championship contention over individual earnings. The move isn’t just about cap relief—it’s a signal to the league that the Knicks are serious about ending their 52-year title drought. By restructuring his deal, Towns effectively buys the franchise an extra year of financial flexibility, delaying the inevitable tax penalties that would have compounded if New York had waited.
The NBA’s tax structure now penalizes repeat offenders at a rate that can exceed $4 per dollar over the second apron, making Towns’ sacrifice a preemptive strike against future financial rigidity. The Knicks’ front office now faces a critical window. With Brunson’s free agency looming, the franchise must decide whether to offer the full supermax or explore sign-and-trade scenarios to maximize assets.
The cap space also positions New York to absorb a high-end trade target like Deandre Ayton, whose expiring $30M deal could be packaged in a deal for a defensive anchor. Alternatively, the Knicks could pivot to free agency, targeting a playmaker like Tyus Jones or a sharpshooter like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, both of whom fit the Knicks’ need for complementary firepower without derailing their cap structure. Towns’ camp framed the decision as a “championship-or-bust” play.
“KAT wants to win now,” said an adviser to Towns. “He’s not waiting for another rebuild. ” The adviser added that Towns sees Brunson as the “missing piece” and wants to ensure the Knicks can keep him long-term.
The move also resets the Knicks’ long-term luxury-tax calculus. By restructuring Towns’ deal now, the franchise avoids the punitive repeater-tax penalties that would have kicked in if they had waited another year. The NBA’s tax structure escalates sharply for repeat offenders, and Towns’ willingness to take less upfront prevents New York from being locked into a cycle of escalating tax bills that could cripple their ability to spend elsewhere.
This is a calculated risk to stay flexible while maintaining a core that’s already proven capable of deep playoff runs. For context, only three franchises have won titles since 2010 without ever paying the luxury tax: the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, the 2014 San Antonio Spurs, and the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers. The Knicks’ current approach mirrors those contenders, prioritizing cap efficiency to build a sustainable winner rather than relying on big-market spending to mask roster flaws.
Towns’ sacrifice aligns with that philosophy, giving New York a blueprint to compete without the financial recklessness that has historically derailed their title chances. What’s next: The Knicks have until July 6 to finalize any trades using the new cap space. Brunson’s free agency begins June 30, and Rose must decide whether to offer the full max or pursue a sign-and-trade to clear additional assets.
If New York lands a third star—whether via trade or free agency—they could vault from a 50-win contender to a legitimate title threat in the East. The cap space also sets up a potential domino effect in the East. If the Knicks land a third star, they could force other contenders like Boston or Milwaukee to rethink their own roster-building strategies.
The move shifts the balance of power in a conference where the Bucks and Celtics have relied on superteams to maintain dominance. Towns’ sacrifice isn’t just about New York—it’s a challenge to the league’s financial status quo, proving that stars can still reshape franchises without breaking the bank. New York’s ability to avoid the luxury tax while adding star power could redefine how contenders operate in the modern NBA.
The Knicks are no longer just a big-market spender—they’re a franchise willing to make hard choices to stay competitive. If Towns’ gamble pays off, it could set a new standard for how stars and front offices collaborate to build championship-caliber teams. Read at ESPN
Towns’ pay cut is a rare example of a franchise center making a selfless financial decision to accelerate a championship timeline. In an NBA where superteams form through cap gymnastics, KAT’s move gives the Knicks a third-star runway without crossing the luxury-tax line or sacrificing their existing core. The cap relief also buys time to retain Brunson, the engine of their offense, and leaves room to absorb another star via trade or free agency. For a franchise that hasn’t won a title since 1973, this isn’t just about dollars—it’s about betting on prime years and ending a half-century of frustration. The restructuring also insulates the Knicks from the NBA’s escalating tax penalties, ensuring their financial flexibility remains intact even if they fall short in free agency this summer. It’s a blueprint for contenders who refuse to mortgage the future for short-term gains.
ESPNespn.com19 Jun, 13:17en
