Karl-Anthony Towns was on top of the world this summer after helping free New York to its first NBA title in more than 50 years. The New Jersey native was sensational in the playoffs, and taken that performance would be easy to a peace deal this summer to stay with the Knicks long-term.
With the start of the 2026-27 season on the horizon, that proved to be no fluke and the Knicks’ star big man is ahead of an offensive renewal in extension talks on Monday ahead of the arrival of the New York City opener in Philly.
“Don’t ask,” Towns said of the extension before the season, per The Athletic. “… I simply want to do something that can keep the team together and work with the Knicks and also appreciate me. It doesn’t matter what happens next.”
The Knicks face the same dilemma that many recent major league teams face: under the collective bargaining agreement and second-base restrictions, it is extremely difficult to retain top talent and keep the core of the team intact. To be clear, this is a question of the NBA’s own construction, since the half-centuries were fought by the owners and (many argue foolishly) without a strong push from the players’ union.
Knicks owner James Dolan was quick to clean himself up in the rain during their championship celebration He did not dare to pass the second gateHe drew a hard line in the sand about how far he was willing to go to keep this team intact.
What makes the town’s expansion saga even more interesting is that he said he wants to take less than tobacco, much like Jalen Brunson did to help build this roster in the first place. Towns noted that he is willing to work a lot to help keep the team together, but he also knows that this could be one of his major final deals and he has to find a balance between still getting something close to the highest value.
His comments on Monday indicate the Knicks aren’t meeting his heart, and according to the New York Post, the Knicks’ current offer is for $200 million over four years — roughly $77 million below the cap they could offer.
That would be a huge discount for the towns; the result is a stalemate.
The Knicks have other extensions to worry about in the next 12 months, with Josh Hart also extension-eligible this summer and then OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson for new deals in 2027. Towns’ deals, as much as anything, should feel like a message to the whole number of the Knicks’ approach to them and what players they expect to sacrifice if they want to keep this core together.
Businesses can go on during the season, but most players seem to avoid contract talks while playing, which could create some real stress in New York. For one, the star standing in the contract, is not exactly in the best state of mind to pay and pay the States. There are real questions about how the Knicks’ front office is going to handle the situation.
Would the Knicks be willing to sit out the talks and wait until next summer, when Towns can become a free agent (or decline the player option) and the possibility of walking for free? Should they (again) explore the opportunities for trade in the towns, knowing that they can walk away if they feel like the common man is willing to present an offer below what he is willing to accept?
In most situations, you should believe that the team and the second best player on the football squad can find some compromise – especially if the player is willing to take less than the tobacco, which is more than he is entitled to. But Knicks ownership is something of a wild card in the sense that Dolan has never been one to feel the need to appease fans. If Towns walks next summer, Knicks fans will be furious, but the lack of Knicks fans has been focused on the team for so long that Dolan simply can’t care.