Karl-Anthony Towns has put the Knicks in a spot, and that’s exactly the kind of tension the Celtics will be watching closely.
New York’s star big man is eligible for a four-year, $276 million extension, but he’s already said he’s open to taking a “ considerable discount.” The issue is that Knicks governor James Dolan doesn’t want to push the team into the second apron, and that has reportedly left New York offering Towns about $200 million - roughly $76 million short of the max.
Asked about the situation on Monday, Towns didn’t exactly calm things down. He said “ it don't look good.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania painted an even shakier picture, and he also noted that Knicks forward Josh Hart, who is eligible but not close to an extension, suggested that if this isn’t resolved by the trade deadline, “the temperature could rise.”
That doesn’t mean the Knicks are suddenly headed for a collapse before their title defense even gets rolling. Towns could still stay in New York for two more seasons if he picks up his $61 million player option for 2027-28, while Hart is sitting on a $22.4 million team option for that same season.
And as long as Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Hart and Towns are all in place, New York will remain one of the teams to beat in the East - maybe the team to beat.
But this is where the pressure starts to matter. Championship cores can crack fast when the money gets messy, and Towns is the player with the most leverage in the room. He could turn down that 2027-28 player option and hit unrestricted free agency next summer, which leaves the Knicks with a very clear fear: losing one of their most important players for nothing.
That’s why some are reading Charania’s report as a sign that Towns and Hart could become trade candidates during the season if nothing gets worked out.
The Celtics already got a boost in the frontcourt this offseason by signing Mitchell Robinson, one of the greatest offensive rebounders in NBA history, while also weakening New York’s depth up front. If the Knicks are forced into tougher decisions from here, Boston could stand to gain again.
For now, there’s still time for the Knicks to settle things with both players before the trade deadline. But the longer the standoff lasts, the more it becomes a storyline not just in New York, but for the Celtics and the rest of the Eastern Conference.
In Other News...
Jayson Tatum Sees One Immediate Difference With Celtics Big Man
Mitchell Robinson is already giving the Celtics something they have long valued in the frontcourt, and Jayson Tatum noticed the difference quickly. After signing a three-year contract with Boston, Robinson brings a reputation for defensive disruption, physical rebounding and the kind of interior presence that can change how opponents attack the rim.
Tatum pointed to Robinson's defensive skills, his work on the glass and the broader impact he can have on the group, which fits neatly with what Boston has wanted from its big men. Robinson has built his name as one of the league's better offensive rebounders, and the Celtics will be counting on that edge to show up every night, especially once the games start to tighten and the margin for error gets smaller. [Read more 🡒]
Jayson Tatum Already Sounds Comfortable With A New Celtics Frontcourt Fit
Bostons final training camp practice in Charleston, South Carolina, offered a first real glimpse of how Jayson Tatum is beginning to mesh with a new frontcourt partner. With the season inching closer, Tatum spent some time discussing Mitchell Robinson and the way the Celtics can lean into his defensive presence, rebounding and screening to make the half-court offense and the overall lineup structure feel more natural.
For Tatum, the fit appears to be about more than just rim protection. He sounded comfortable with the idea of Robinson helping set the tone on both ends, and that matters for a team trying to sort out its rotations and maximize the forwards and centers around him. The early read is encouraging, even if the real test will come once the Celtics start facing live pressure and have to turn those camp impressions into something repeatable. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Are Suddenly Linked To A Knicks Move Fans Didn't Expect
The Celtics already made one notable Knicks-related splash this offseason by bringing in center Mitchell Robinson, and now their front office is being tied to another big name from New York. This time it is Karl-Anthony Towns, whose contract situation has quietly become a talking point around the league as Boston looks for ways to keep stacking talent around its core.
A Towns deal would not be simple and it would not come cheap, but the fit is easy to understand for a team that values spacing, size and versatility. The possibility only exists if contract talks in New York go sideways, which remains a long shot given the Knicks recent championship, but the mere mention of Boston in that conversation is enough to make the idea worth watching. [Read more 🡒]