Karl-Anthony Towns Knicks extension talks
by Yetundejones: Karl-Anthony Towns
Josh Hart already said the temperature could rise around February, and that's the part that sticks with me. Karl-Anthony Towns told the Knicks he'll take a real discount on his extension, same as Mikael Bridges, O.J. Ananobi and Jalen Brunson did before him. The problem is what the team is asking back. Sources say the offer on the table is four years, roughly $200 million, which sits $76 million under the max he's eligible for. James Dolan has made it known this roster will not be in the second apron going forward, and Towns has shown he's open to a structure that keeps them under it. The Knicks just haven't budged off that $200 million threshold. He has one guaranteed year left before the player option next summer turns him into a free agent, so if he and Hart are still unsigned when the trade deadline rolls around, things get louder. As of now, no deal is closed (and honestly, nobody sounds close).
Transcript (en)
George, this is a growing cloud around the New York Knicks, and Carl Anthony Towns has made it clear to the Knicks that he is willing to take a considerable discount on his contract extension coming up, just like his teammates have, like Mikael Bridges, O.J. Ananobi, as well as Jalen Brunson. But right now, the Knicks want him to take a substantial pay cut, what he believes to be an extreme discount on his deal. Sources tell me the Knicks are offering Towns a four-year, approximately $200 million contract extension. That's $76 million less than his max. That's under the backdrop of James Dolan, their owner, making it clear that this team will not be in the second apron moving forward. Connity Towns though has shown a willingness to negotiate a deal that would satisfy this team staying under the second apron but the Knicks have not moved off this threshold of about 200 million dollars over the four years and he has one year guaranteed left on his contract before the player option next summer that would make him a free agent and Josh Hart has already hinted that as this gets closer to February which is around the trade deadline the temperature could rise if Caught in 30 Towns and Hart himself are not extended. So far, these sides are not closed.
