Why do we have to lose about 19million in salary to get Chandler?

The new CBA is why.

While I am no expert in the new CBA, some things are pretty clear: The Knicks are currently <b>over</b> the salary cap. They have 60.6 MM in committed salaries and 1.6MM in cap hold to Roger Mason that only comes off when he signs elsewhere. That is a total of 62.6MM. The salary cap for 2011 is 58.4 MM.

Losing Chauncey's salary (14.2 MM) will get us below the cap so we can sign Chandler - but we can only sign him to the difference between the new salary (60.6 - 14.2 = 46.4) and the salary cap (58.4) or 12mm. To get him 14MM, they gotta lose another 2MM at least - so, exit Turiaf.

So why the desperation to trade Chauncey rather than amnesty?

According to the new CBA - teams can use the amnesty <b>once</b> during the current CBA for a pre 2011 contract. As far as the Knicks are concerned the amnesty may also be called the STAT insurance policy. It will allow them to get STATs salary off for cap purposes, should his knees give out.

Using it on Chauncey means no STAT insurance in that route. So trade Chauncey.

I don't know why Billups is so pissed off - really. Amnesty means he still gets his 14.2 million, mostly from the Knicks. Whoever bids the highest for his services gets him for a song - basically what they bid for him. The rest comes from Dolan's pockets and Chauncey gets to babysit a young point guard.

Maybe Denver would pick up Chauncey for 3MM and he can go home?