Winning a championship is supposed to make everything easier, right? Free parades, endless highlight reels, maybe even a little extra love at contract time. For the New York Knicks, though, the hangover from last season’s title run comes with a hefty price tag.
The Knicks opened their preseason schedule Monday night, but one of the biggest pieces of their championship puzzle is still at odds with the front office. Karl-Anthony Towns and the team remain far apart on a contract extension, and the big man isn’t exactly feeling optimistic.
Towns isn’t sugarcoating it
Asked Monday whether a new deal could get done before the regular season tips off, Towns admitted things don’t look good. That’s not the kind of update Knicks fans wanted to hear on preseason opening night.
Here’s what’s on the table. Towns is eligible for a four-year extension worth more than $276 million. He’s set to earn $57 million this season and holds a $61.1 million player option for next season.
The Knicks’ latest offer, according to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Shams Charania, was a four-year deal worth roughly $200 million. Do the math, and that’s a gap of about $76 million. That’s not a rounding error. That’s a whole lot of courtside seats.
A title run built on KAT’s shoulders
So why does the six-time All-Star feel he deserves top dollar? Just look at last spring.
Towns was a driving force behind New York’s playoff run, averaging 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists. The Knicks capped it off by beating the San Antonio Spurs in a five-game NBA Finals, ending a championship drought that had lasted 53 years.
Should the team reward him for helping deliver that long-awaited trophy? When reporters put that question to him, Towns answered with a colorful version of “obviously.” He pointed out that he had just won a championship and suggested the answer should be easy, unless reporters believe he still has something left to prove.
Subtle? Not really. Clear? Absolutely.
The apron problem
Of course, the Knicks have their own balancing act to worry about. Owner James Dolan has said the team won’t go into the second spending apron, the NBA’s strictest salary tier, which means some tough calls are coming.
New York has already made one painful cut. The team didn’t re-sign backup center Mitchell Robinson this offseason, and Robinson, who was the longest-tenured Knick on last season’s roster, signed with the Boston Celtics. Losing a fan favorite to a bitter rival? That stings.
Where things stand with Towns and the Knicks
To his credit, KAT says he understands how hard it is to keep a championship core together. But in his view, the team hasn’t done enough to meet him halfway.
He said he wants a deal that keeps the roster intact, works for the Knicks and still reflects his value. According to Towns, the two sides haven’t come close to striking that balance.
Think of it like a group dinner where everyone agrees on the restaurant but nobody can agree on how to split the check. Everyone wants to stay at the table. The question is who’s paying for what.
For now, the big man will keep suiting up, and the front office will keep crunching numbers. The regular season is fast approaching, and the clock is ticking on a deal.
So, will the Knicks find a way to bridge the gap, or is this standoff headed for an even messier ending? Stay tuned, New York. This one could get loud.
