Monday is media day, Nix center Karl-Anthony Towns James L. Edwards III of The Athletic was asked about a potential contract extension (Link to Twitter).
“I made it clear that I wanted to play here; I have been a fan since childhood” Towns said.I would like to make one. I would like to do this, step on the floor and feel as comfortable as possible.”
Towns will earn $57 million this season and will be a $61 million player in the 2027/28 campaign. His maximum extension, which will replace the option, will cost is projected $276 million over four years ($69 million annually).
Towns was later asked if he would be willing to negotiate an extension when the season begins, or if he is comfortable negotiating during the season, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
“I think there is no comfort in this situationTowns replied.
ESPN recently reported that talks between the Knicks and the star big man “stagnation“and that the deal is unlikely to be completed in the short term. Subsequent reporting has suggested that both parties may be “eight figures apart on an annual basis.”
According to Edwards, Towns, a six-time All-Star, said he lost some weight this offseason (Link to Twitter), and said he was “very surprised” the team decided not to re-sign the backup center Mitchell Robinson in free agency.
“I was very surprised Mitch didn’t come back with us” Towns said (Link to Twitter via Newsday’s Steve Popper). “I think we all were. Everyone was surprised, they thought that something would be done there.”
Veterans wing Josh Hart is also eligible for an extension, but the situation with his contract is a little different. Instead of a player option for 2027/2028, the Knicks are holding a $22.4 million team option on his deal.
Like Towns, Hart has made it clear his priority is to sign an extension with New York, according to SNY Knicks (Link to video on Twitter).
“You always want to do it as quickly as possibleHart said.You don’t want that to seep into the season because any time there’s uncertainty, there’s going to be a lot of questions. There will be a lot of rumours, and on a human level, it can wear people down at times and affect how you do things on a day-to-day basis, just part of that uncertainty.
“Obviously that’s something you want to do so you don’t have to deal with it and focus on it. After all, we know this is a business. You have these situations and you never know what’s going to happen, but for me, as long as I’m wearing this jersey, I’m going to play as hard as I can for my guys and for the city.
“Hopefully we can figure it out. We know it’s a business, and we know if some of these things aren’t figured out by February, it could be a different conversation..”
