The saga with Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks is absolutely heating up right now, and it’s all happening before the 2026-27 NBA season even kicks off. What makes this so wild is that Towns was one of the most important players in their incredible 2026 championship run. He wants a contract that actually reflects those contributions, but the organization is trying to stick to their own valuation, worried about messing up their finances and especially about clearing that dreaded second apron.
The Championship Core Is Being Tested by the Dollar Signs
Think about it: the Knicks just won a championship! The logical move, the one everyone expects, is to keep that core together. But money, man, it complicates everything. Reports are saying the Knicks are offering Towns around $200 million. That might sound like a lot, but it’s a shocking $77 million *less* than the max contract he could get, which is around $277 million. From an outsider’s perspective, that just looks like a lowball offer, plain and simple. It’s not a good look for a reigning champion trying to retain one of their key guys.
Even though Towns has reportedly been willing to take a pay cut, that $77 million difference is a massive number. Everyone remembers how Jalen Brunson took a significant pay cut to help the Knicks build this winner. But at some point, players want to earn what they’re worth, especially when they just helped you hoist a championship trophy. This whole situation has got a lot of people throwing some serious shade the Knicks’ way.
Joe Johnson Goes OFF on the Lowball
And that includes former multi-time All-Star Joe Johnson, who is absolutely frustrated with how the Knicks are handling this. He didn’t hold back on Nightcap, laying it all out: “Jalen Duren just signed for $200 million, man. Come on, man, I’m not signing no damn 200. I ain’t got to break the bank at 276, but meet me at 240, 250… He done the ultimate! The man won a title! Hell, them first two games in the Finals, bro, he was your best player on the floor! We were talking about KAT winning the MVP.”
Johnson’s got a point. Towns absolutely deserves a max contract, but if the Knicks aren’t going to give him that, Johnson argues they need to come up with a much bigger deal than what’s on the table. It feels like a disrespectful offer to a lot of people, and Towns would be completely validated if he’s feeling frustrated with how these negotiations are going down.
The ball’s in the Knicks’ court now. Do they risk blowing up their championship core to save some cash, or do they pay their man what he’s worth? This isn’t just about money; it’s about respect for a guy who helped bring a title home. The whole league is watching to see how this plays out for the reigning champs.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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