Far be it from me to defend James Dolan. Since he assumed ownership of the Knicks and Rangers in 1999, both franchises have basically spun their wheels. The Rangers missed the playoffs 12 out of 27 seasons; the Knicks, until the arrival of Leon Rose, made the playoffs three times from 2001 to 2020. Indeed, the best decision Dolan ever made in his entire life was to hire Rose to run the Knicks organization. Trust me, it's easy to despise this man.
But the flack he's taking over his comments on WFAN that the Knicks would not go over the second apron is undeserved and totally uncalled for. First off, I doubt if Dolan even knows what an apron is; if you think he does, you're giving him way too much credit. Remember, this was the same guy who thought Phil Jackson and Isaiah Thomas were capable of running his team when an even a neophyte could tell they were in over their heads. Everything he knows about basketball could probably fit on the back of a fortune cookie.
No, the decision to stay under the second apron came from Rose, and not because he was worried about the extra money his boss might have to dole out. The man shits money the way a sugar addict downs jelly beans. The fact is there are sever ramifications for going over the second apron. Before I list what they are, a brief history is in order.
The apron system was enacted in July of 2023 and went into effect in the '24 offseason. There are two aprons: the first and the second. The first apron acts as a sort of luxury tax trigger. While there are some penalties, they are not too severe. Most teams in the NBA have, at one time or another, gone over it.
The second apron, however, is where the shit hits the fan. It's the league's way of saying you fucked up and now there's a price to be paid. These are the penalties for going over the second apron:
1. No salary aggregation. That means teams cannot combine salaries in order to acquire a player. In other words, no two for one.
2. No sign and trades. Pretty much self explanatory.
3. No cash in trades. Teams are prohibited from including cash in any trade.
4. No mid-level exceptions. Teams can only sign free agents to minimum contracts.
5. No buy-out signings. This applies to players who made more than the mid-level exception in their previous salary.
6. Frozen draft picks. First round picks that are seven years out cannot be traded.
Basically, teams that go into the second apron can only do the following things: 1. sign their own draft picks, 2. sign their own free agents and 3. sign other teams free agents to minimum contracts. That's it.
Over the last three seasons, seven teams have gone over the second apron: the Boston Celtics (2024-25), the Phoenix Suns (2024-25 & 2025-26), the Minnesota Timberwolves (2024-25), the Milwaukee Bucks (2024-25), the Cleveland Cavaliers (2025-26), the Golden State Warriors (2023-24 transition phase), and the Los Angeles Clippers (2023-24 transition phase). Of those teams, only the Cavs are still over the second apron, though the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently flirting with it.
Why have so few teams gone over the second apron? Because it's the closest thing to purgatory on Earth for a sports franchise, that's why. Leon Rose has come close twice, but resisted crossing that threshold both times. There's no indication that the third time will be any different. Just the opposite, in fact. During the NBA draft, Rose traded his first round pick for five second round picks, then traded back in the second round. Those are not the moves of a man who plans on going over the second apron; they are the moves of a man who is doing everything humanly possible to stay under it.
Throughout his tenure as President and GM of the Knicks, Rose has had pretty much free reign to run the basketball operations as he sees fit, and Dolan, for his part, has gone along with it. Anybody who thinks that the decision to stay under the second apron was driven by money hasn't been paying attention. Rose knows more about the nuances of cap management and salary negations than anyone in the sport. He should; he was one of the most successful agents before coming to New York. The last thing he would do is box himself in; which is what going over the second apron would do. The man built a championship roster; you think he doesn't know how to replace a couple of bench players?
For fuck's sake, grow up.
Look, Mitchell Robinson was a valuable member of this team, but Bill Russell he wasn't. Rose will find a suitable replacement for him, and probably for less money. Landry Shamet, likewise, played an integral role coming off the bench, but if he chooses to leave, it won't be the end of the world. The Knicks starting five is still, overall, the best in the NBA. I trust that Rose and his staff will be able to assemble a nine-man rotation for Mike Brown capable of defending the title in time for the season opener.
If nothing else, he's earned the benefit of the doubt.
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