While the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers would like to make a meaningful addition via the NBA buyout market, a new report explains why that is highly unlikely.
As the NBA season nears the All-Star break, the Knicks and Lakers have played above expectations. Owning among the best records in the league right now. Both clubs are also 10 games over .500. And they have rosters that could make serious noise in the playoffs this spring.
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However, they had very different results before the trade deadline. LA made one of the most shocking trades in NBA history when they landed Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic. Giving them the heir apparent to LeBron James that they had long hoped for. The Knicks were pretty quiet before the deadline after some huge moves before the season.
Yet, both clubs will still be looking to tinker with their rosters for the stretch run. And the NBA buyout market might offer the opportunity to do that. But a new report this weekend explained why neither team will be able to make a truly impactful addition in free agency soon.
- New York Knicks payroll (2024-25): $188 million
New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers payroll will limit options in the NBA buyout market
ESPN NBA analyst and salary cap expert Bobby Marks took to X this weekend to update fans on the teams that have payrolls in the first or second tax apron. Those teams are the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks.
“The 7 teams are not allowed to sign a player that is waived and had a pre-existing salary of $12.8M+,” Marks wrote. That means the really impactful former stars that could hit the buyout market soon — like Ben Simmons did this weekend — are off-limits to LA and New York.
- Los Angeles Lakers payroll (2024-25): $199 million
The first tax apron is set at $172 million while the second is at $182 million. The Knicks ($188 million) and Lakers ($199 million) are both above the second apron. And for teams that exceed that amount, there are other penalties beyond just added taxes. The one Marks mentioned is one of those punishments.
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