For now Karl-Anthony Towns made it clear on Monday that he wants to sign a contract extension, negotiations between his camp and Nix there is reportedly stopped and there, as they say, is a significant gap in the assessment between the two parties.
How Stefan Bondi of The New York Post writes (subscriber link), the Knicks are playing hardball with the six-time All-Star because they are concerned about their future salary situation, with Jalen Brunson and And Anunoby until next offseason.
Towns has improved his NBA stock thanks to a remarkable run in the playoffs in which he has noticeably improved his defense while serving as a key offensive focal point. However, he is eligible for an extension worth a projected $276 million over four years, and Bondi says he won’t be a plus at that max number.
Bondi thinks a reasonable new contract for Towns would be a four-year, $200 million extension. The problem is that the 30-year-old could earn a projected $266.9 million for four years, when he will sign a max deal with a contending team in 2027 in free agency, Bondi notes, and is clearly frustrated with the current state of negotiations.
Despite Towns’ public effort to pressure the team, Bondi believes the Knicks should continue to take a patient approach as the former No. 1 overall pick remains under extension until June 30, 2027. Towns will make about $57.1 million this season and has a $61 million player option for 2027-28.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- After spending each of the Knicks’ last two training camps on Exhibit 9 non-guaranteed deals, the veteran guard Landry Shamet he is happy that this time he has some security, he writes Christian Winfield of The New York Daily News. Shamet signed a four-year, $24 million contract with the Knicks this summer as a free agent. “I’ve been pretty open with you guys the last couple of years. It definitely gives you a sense of perspective and appreciation, for which I am gratefulShamet said.When they believed in me and offered it so me and (his fiancee) Cami could stay here in New York and continue to grow this thing, that’s pretty special. To be asked to be a part of this is humbling and I’m grateful for it every day. It means a lot.”
- However, Shamet made it clear that he will not rest on his laurels just because he has a long-term contract. Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. “In a way, it just makes me proud of myselfShamet said.That’s why you go through hard times, hard times and hard times. There’s usually some really good stuff on the other end of that. It’s nice, it’s nice to be a part of this movement forward. I don’t want to drop my level or be complacent or anything like that, that’s definitely not the feeling. Plus, it’s just nice to know you won’t have that heavy wave on your butt again this boot camp.”
- Head coach Mike Brown noted Thursday that everyone in training camp appears to be in “pretty good shape” despite the short summer since the team’s first title in 53 years, James O’Connell of The New York Daily News. Brown also suggested the starters will have relatively light workloads for most of the preseason, which opens Monday in Philadelphia. “We will try to facilitate them” said Brown.The last (pre-season) game is always a dress rehearsal, but we’ll try to build them up leading up to this game.”
- The Knicks will officially become a public company on October 27, tweets Mike Varkunow of The Athletic, former president of basketball operations and head coach Isiah Thomas will be part of the team’s board of directors, according to Schwartz. As Schwartz points out, Thomas stayed close to the owner James Dolan even though it was dismissed almost two decades ago (in 2008).