The Knicks are hard-capped at the first apron after the Mikal Bridges trade, limiting them to $178 million in team salary. Trading picks for future second-round picks and selecting Pacome Dadiet saved them $3 million. By adding $5 million to the Bridges trade, they can avoid the hard-cap at the second apron, allowing them to potentially offer Isaiah Hartenstein a deal worth $72 million.
The Knicks face challenges in retaining Hartenstein due to competing offers from other teams, making it essential for them to continue shedding salary to remain competitive in the NBA.