Karl-Anthony Towns just flat out told James Edwards of The Athletic that he was completely blindsided by the Knicks’ decision to table contract extension talks, dropping a “It was news to me” bomb that’s gotta send shockwaves through their locker room. Management apparently thought the extension talks, not just for Towns but also Josh Hart, were becoming a distraction and decided to put a pause on them until later in the season. But for one of their core guys to find out this way? Yikes.
“Very Disappointed, To Say The Least”
Towns didn’t pull any punches, saying he was “Very disappointed, to say the least.” He gets that it’s a business, like he said, “Let’s state the obvious: It’s a business, but there is business on the court for us to handle.” You gotta respect that honesty, even if it’s a tough pill for the front office to swallow. New York has four guys eligible for extensions , Towns, Hart, Miles McBride, and Tyler Kolek , but it’s Towns and Hart who are in the spotlight as the Knicks try to keep their championship core intact with that looming second apron. This is a veteran roster, though, so the expectation is they’ll stay professional and focused despite the noise.
The Money, The Numbers, and the Championship Core
The numbers here are wild, and they’re a huge part of why this is such a story. Towns is eligible for a massive four-year, $276 million extension. He’s been saying he’s willing to take a discount to help the team out, which is huge! But apparently, the Knicks’ idea of a discount was a little different from his. They reportedly offered four years and $200 million, which averages out to $50 million per season. That’s a serious pay cut from the $57.1 million he’s set to make this season, and don’t forget he’s got a $61 million player option for the 2027-28 season. Towns has every right to feel he’s earned his payday, especially after averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and being absolutely critical to them winning an NBA title. That kind of production, that kind of success, and then to be offered a pay cut like that? You feel for the guy.
Focus on the Season, But What About the Communication?
The Knicks’ official line on all this? They want to “cool the temperature” and put negotiations on hold to focus on the court. They even released a statement: “As an organization, our entire focus is on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of. As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season.” Sounds good on paper, right? But the kicker is they just didn’t bother telling Towns about it *before* they went public with the announcement. That’s the kind of move that can really mess with team chemistry, especially at the start of a season with championship aspirations. The Knicks have a “business on the court” to handle, as Towns said, and you have to wonder how this will impact that as they push through the early part of the schedule.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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