The Nix released a statement saying they are in talks with players who are eligible for contract extensions through the 2026/27 season, according to Newsday’s Steve Popper (Link to Twitter).
“As an organization, we are focused on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year to make our fans proud.” – says the statement of the team. “As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions later in the season and will focus solely on preparing for the start of the season.”
A great man Karl-Anthony Townsforward Josh Hartand a security guard Miles McBride are currently eligible for renewal, as are the Guard Tyler Kolek.
Small towns admitted earlier this week that he was frustrated with the Knicks’ contract extension talks, telling reporters that he and the team weren’t close to reaching a deal and that he was surprised that there was such a big rift between the two sides after a championship season.
Reports indicate New York’s offer to Towns is four years and $200 million. The star center, who will earn $57.1 million in 2026/27 and has a $61 million player option for 27/28, is eligible for a max extension is projected $276 million over four years. He is said to be willing to take less than his maximum, but he and the Knicks have come nowhere close to a compromise.
Hart is considered another top New York State expansion candidate. He talked about his contract situation at media day last monthadmitting that he would prefer to get a deal done sooner rather than later, and suggesting that opposition to the expansion could “wear people out” if it remains unresolved indefinitely.
“Hopefully we can figure it out,” Hart said then. “We know it’s a business and we know if some of these things aren’t cleared up by February, it could be a different conversation.”
Although McBride and Kolek are also eligible for extensions, they were considered less likely to sign new contracts before the season. Kolek has yet to establish himself as a consistent player in the rotation, while McBride is likely in for a big bump in his $3.96 million salary after playing consistently in New York’s backcourt in recent years. It’s unclear whether the Knicks will be comfortable giving him such a raise.
Team owner James Dolan‘s mandate that the Knicks stay out of the second tax bracket has complicated their various contract negotiations. The club has a few more big contracts – And Anunoby, Jalen Brunsonand Mikal Bridges are making a combined $113.7 million this season, and that number will grow in the years to come – and they risk moving into second apron territory by signing Towns and Hart to lucrative new deals even if McBride isn’t retained.
While players with multiple years left on their contracts can only sign veteran contract extensions until Oct. 19, expiring vets are eligible for extensions throughout the regular season, all the way through June 30, 2027.
Of the Knicks’ four extension-eligible players, only McBride is technically out of contract, but Towns (player), Hart (team) and Kolek (team) have 2027/28 options that could be picked up as part of an in-season extension.
Postponing extension negotiations until Oct. 19 means those options cannot be exercised as part of a new deal unless it happens next offseason. For example, Towns could pick up his 27/28 option next June and then sign a contract extension in July. But if he signed a new extension in February, it would have started in ’27/28, superseding his option.
