Knicks reportedly adding Shake Milton, Mamadi Diakite to sign and trade with Nets for Mikal Bridges

The Knicks now are 16.9 million away from Second Apron ($188.9 million) with 11 players under contract.

The New York Knicks have been working for some time to avoid some of the restrictions imposed by the new NBA trade rules that went into effect this year.

The team is adding Shake Milton (via Shams Charania, with a deal worth 9 million total over 3 years, only the first one guaranteed) and Mamadi Diakite (2.3 million, about half guaranteed) in the sign and trade with the Brooklyn Nets that will bring Mikal Bridges to Coach Thibodeau’s group. Also headed to the Knicks is Keita Bates-Diop.

This way, explains CBA expert Yossi Gozlan, the Knicks are 16.9 million away from the Second Apron ($188.9 million) with 11 players under contract.

That leaves enough flexibility for a new deal with Precious Achiuwa (or at any rate a center to replace Hartenstein) and also use the $5.2 million Taxpayer Mid-level Exception.