The New York Knicks' championship roster could be headed for a shakeup, with contract extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart reportedly far from settled.
Both players are entering the final guaranteed years of their contracts. While Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges are locked in, negotiations with Towns and Hart have stalled. The Knicks are said to be "not close" to agreements with either. Towns is eligible for a massive four-year, $276 million max extension. The team's current offer is reportedly around $200 million. Towns has signaled a willingness to take a discount, but the gap is substantial. For Josh Hart, the max eligible deal is four years and $132 million. New York's offer is believed to be closer to $20 million per season, not the $33 million annual value a max contract would bring.
Analyst Shams Charania has suggested both players might not finish the season in New York. If extensions aren't signed, the Knicks could explore trades before the February deadline. This would prevent losing them for nothing in free agency. "This is a growing cloud around the New York Knicks," Charania reported. He added that Towns is open to a discount but feels the team's request is an "extreme" pay cut. Hart himself has hinted that the situation could intensify as the trade deadline nears. The financial landscape is forcing tough choices, even for a team fresh off a title.
The potential front-office drama hasn't slowed the Knicks on the floor. The team's cohesion and performance, make the potential departure of key contributors even more notable.
Letting either player walk would alter the team's identity. Towns provides elite scoring and floor-spacing from the center position. Hart's relentless rebounding and defensive versatility are signature elements of the Knicks' grit. Moving them would signal a recalibration, not a full rebuild, with Brunson, Anunoby, and Bridges as the new core. The front office must weigh immediate contention against long-term financial flexibility. Their recent success proves the current mix works. But the NBA's salary cap waits for no one, not even champions. The coming months will reveal if this group gets one more run or if a new era begins sooner than expected.
