Although it may surprise many, the topic of conversation around the New York Knicks isn’t whether they can repeat as champions, but the stalled extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, something the former has certainly contributed to with his remarks, and which a New York legend like Carmelo Anthony believes must be halted at once.
The former Knicks player has analyzed the situation the team is facing regarding those extensions and understands that they have made the right decision by stopping negotiations outright, since with days remaining before the start of a new season the focus should be solely on basketball.
«I think these are happy times; I simply believe things happen so fast today that, after celebrating the championship, we return to the usual routine, right? The business must go on. It seems important to me that they have paused the conversations; they’ll deal with that later, at the end of the season», he comments, clashing with Towns’s stance, who wanted his future settled — and for more money than has been offered — before returning to play.
What matters is that the Knicks are not in a hurry nor do they intend to go crazy with the salary cap. James Dolan, the team’s owner, announced in June that he wasn’t going to dip into his pocket, and he is undoubtedly keeping his word.
When will the talks resume? It’s impossible to know. The organization of the city that never sleeps has left it open that they would talk again later in the season, but pinpointing the exact moment is impossible; there’s even a possibility that news of the final agreement (or disagreement) will simply drop suddenly.
«What has to happen, will happen. Right now the focus must be on the fundamentals: basketball. We are going to defend this championship. And I think both sides understand that», Melo states.
The Numbers Behind Towns’ Disappointment
They are crystal clear. Karl-Anthony Towns is eligible for a maximum four-year contract worth $276 million, while the Knicks are offering four years but with $200 million. The center finds that the reduction is excessive and does not intend to sign under these terms, at least for now. He also has no need to rush, as this season he will earn $57 million and he holds a player option worth $61.1 million for the 2027-28 campaign.
As for Josh Hart, who has indeed shown more composure on the matter, he will earn $21 million this season and the Knicks have an option for the 2027-28 campaign worth $22.4 million. For now he remains calm, but he has doubts about how events will unfold if they reach the trade deadline (February) without a resolution.
