I think I know why the Knicks are doing this

By acquiring Rivers in a S&T, they can absorb his salary into the Marcus Morris TPE of $3,988,766

This would give them more flexibility for salary cutting/dumping (likely Batum), as Rivers would cut into their cap space otherwise https://twitter.com/KnicksAlerts/status/1331789837318361088">https://twitter.com/KnicksAle...

If the Knicks do this and have Payton take the room exception instead, they would have ~$27M in cap space. Batum& #39;s contract is... ~$27M. If they need further flexibility, they can send Bullock or Evans in the deal too

If Knicks get Batum and then trade Randle + a couple 2nds into OKC& #39;s TPE, that might create a TPE for NYK at $18.9M

@JeffreyBellone + I are trying to confirm if you can get a TPE while you& #39;re operating as an over-the-cap team even if you dump a player into another team& #39;s TPE

JB once again showing he is the Mr. Miyagi to my Daniel LaRusso

I& #39;m incorrect in that the MM TPE is gone

HOWEVER, NYK could get over the cap and create a TPE to then acquire Rivers

Or, the Knicks could do Rivers + asset from HOU for Bullock https://twitter.com/JeffreyBellone/status/1331800518876913670?s=20">https://twitter.com/JeffreyBe...

A Rivers-for-Bullock deal would trim the payroll a bit more, giving NYK a better opportunity to absorb Batum for the cost of, say, Evans

Bottom line is a S&T is still super creative, just doesn& #39;t have anything to do with Mook

Apologies for this roller coaster of a thread