The date was July 4.
The New York Knicks parted ways with veteran Joe Ingles.
In the end, Ingles joined the Orlando Magic on a two-year, $22 million contract.
Compared with Gallinari, Ingles was still in fairly good competitive form. In certain special situations, he could even produce unexpected results.
But for the Knicks, an annual salary of $11 million was still too expensive.
Since the Magic were willing to be the suckers, they could have him.
And for Ingles himself...
Though he had enjoyed his time with the Knicks and liked the atmosphere within the team, there was no helping it. The Knicks had offered only $5 million a year, while the Magic had more than doubled that figure. From a practical standpoint, there was really no need to hesitate over which team to choose, right?~~
Nobody would turn against money.
After all, this was just business.
On the same day Ingles's departure was confirmed, the Knicks immediately announced that they would exercise Obi Toppin's team option for the final year of his contract.
Based on the young dunk champion's performance last season, this would likely be the final year the Knicks could use Toppin at such a low price.
Incidentally, another player with only one year of low-cost control remaining was the team's starting center, Hartenstein.
Originally signed merely to serve as a backup, Hartenstein had somehow overtaken everyone in just half a season. Through sheer ability, he had forcibly squeezed out Drummond and firmly claimed the starting spot, something the front office truly had not expected at the time.
And now, it was time for them to pay the price for that shortsighted decision.
Hartenstein was currently on a one-year, $8.35 million contract.
Whether the Knicks should reach an early extension with him, or risk losing such