Karl-Anthony Towns just confirmed he is absolutely willing to take less than max money to stay with the New York Knicks. It’s an insane revelation coming right as the defending champs kick off their 2026-27 season on Tuesday night, collecting their rings before battling the new-look Philadelphia 76ers. But while it’s a huge night for celebrations, it’s also a stark reminder of the massive gamble the Knicks are taking after publicly slamming the brakes on all contract extension talks with Towns and other key players like Josh Hart, Deuce McBride, and Tyler Kolek.
“Nowhere in My Mind a Max Was Even Thought Of”
Think about that for a second: a superstar, a champion, literally saying he’s not even thinking about the max deal. Towns was the first guy the Knicks tried to lock down this summer, but the two sides couldn’t get on the same page with their asking prices, and New York abruptly pulled the plug on negotiations. Towns had already voiced his frustration earlier in the month, stressing he wanted to figure something out to “keep the team together” while still valuing his worth. But ahead of Tuesday’s opener, he sat down with ESPN, alongside Jalen Brunson, who famously took a huge discount on his last deal, and dropped this bombshell.
“Oh yeah, because I want this team to stay together,” Towns told ESPN, confirming his willingness to take less. He wasn’t playing around either. “That’s always been my main priority, was to keep everyone here, to keep this core, this special team that we have. So it was the first thing on my mind as soon as it was. And there was nowhere in my mind a max was even thought of.” He wants to run it back, keep the band together, whatever you want to call it. That’s a player who wants to win, plain and simple.
The $70 Million Standoff and Dolan’s Precedent
So, what’s the hang-up then? The Knicks reportedly put a four-year, $200 million offer on the table. Sounds big, right? Except that’s more than a $70 million discount off Towns’ actual max contract. Most around the league figured they’d land somewhere in the $225-240 million range. But by hitting pause on talks until some unknown “later date,” the Knicks are playing a dangerous game. They’re shortening the window to get this deal done, risking Towns getting fed up and declining his player option, sending him straight to unrestricted free agency where bigger offers would almost certainly be waiting.
It gets even crazier when you look at the bigger picture. Knicks owner James Dolan is putting the pressure on the players to make sacrifices, refusing to even think about crossing into the dreaded second apron. It feels like they’re trying to set a precedent with Towns’ negotiation, like “Hey, you want to be a champion here? You gotta take less.” Towns made it clear he wants to stay in New York and chase more titles with his teammates. But how long can that desire battle the internal turmoil of a franchise seemingly nickel-and-diming its stars after winning a championship?
The Knicks are celebrating a title tonight, but this contract drama is a massive cloud hanging over the whole thing. The ball is squarely in New York’s court. Will they finally come to their senses and lock down their star, or are they really going to risk losing a guy who literally said he’d take a $70 million pay cut for the team? We’ll be watching how this plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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