The King in the North
Hurt?Though Copeland deserves something in the $3-5 million range based on his play this season, this kinda screws with the offseason. New York can’t afford to let him go, so they’ll probably have to end up using the taxpayers’ mid-level exception on him.
The good thing about Copeland is that he is only going to get better next year, so that allows the team to improve from within. If he does get paid, though, that will leave the Knicks with only a draft pick and a bunch of minimum contracts to re-tool with in the summer.
Glen Grunwald may have to get a bit creative with trades because there’s no realistic way to get under the tax apron if Copeland and J.R. Smith are re-signed. Steve Novak could intrigue a few teams, and his $4 million salary could net a decent player in return.
Everyone else on the roster is either untouchable or too overpaid to be traded.
