RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Despite not getting the $272 million supermax contract extension from the New York Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns is likely to stay with the team.
Towns was instrumental in helping the Knicks win their first NBA championship in 53 years, playing elite defense against Victor Wembanyama throughout the NBA Finals.
And even though the Knicks aren’t going to sign him to a lucrative long-term extension, the former All-Star is still expected to stay in New York on a more team-friendly contract.
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Ian Begley explains why Karl-Anthony Towns will stay with New York Knicks
New York Knicks beat reporter Ian Begley spoke about the future of Karl-Anthony Towns, who is unlikely to get the $272 million contract extension from the Knicks.
He noted that Towns and the Knicks have reason to extend their partnership, with KAT likely getting a $45 million per year contract offer.
“If I had to take a guess, the two sides will reach an agreement. Towns clearly loves New York. Maybe he can make more money with another team next summer (Towns has a $57 million salary this season and his contract has a $61 million player option for 2027-28).
“But why would he leave? He won a timeless championship with his hometown team. Unless the Knicks make an insultingly low offer to Towns, I think they get something done here.
“If I’m using the recent Rudy Gobert extension as a baseline, I could see an extension for Towns starting around $45 million.”
Begley added that Towns could make more money as a free agent, but with the current financial restraints placed on teams due to the NBA salary cap rules, staying with the Knicks on a team-friendly deal is a far safer option for him.
“By signing this kind of deal, Towns would obviously lose the opportunity to make more money as a 2027 free agent.
“Given all of the factors at play (the state of NBA economics, teams’ approach to the second apron, the Knicks’ title), there are reasons for Towns to play it safe and sign an extension.
“Towns leaving New York also would hurt the Knicks. If Towns and the team can’t agree on a deal, New York would have to make a significant pivot to find another front-line center. So from the outside looking in, it seems like it makes sense for both sides to figure out a deal.”
It’s hard to see the Knicks letting Karl-Anthony Towns walk in free agency. Despite all the criticism they received for trading for Towns in 2024, he has rewarded their investment with a championship win.
On top of that, he has become a much better defender than he was earlier in his career, thus providing the Knicks with an elite two-way big who can stretch the floor, an archetype incredibly rare in the modern NBA.
The Knicks know that they can’t keep their championship core together for much longer, but they should maximise their time together for as long as possible.
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