The Knicks are staring at a delicate contract crossroads with Karl-Anthony Towns, and the list of teams that could step in keeps getting more interesting.
If New York and Towns can’t come together on a new deal, the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the cleanest outside options, according to the New York Post and an anonymous NBA executive. The issue is simple: money, roster fit and timing are all colliding at once.
“Only a few possible suitors stand out to me right now in terms of cap space teams and fit. Chicago and the Clippers have the cleanest path,” the executive said.
“The Nets can get there with the money, but that's not a good fit. Golden State and Dallas could get around [$50 million] in space with more tinkering.”
That uncertainty hangs over negotiations that are already far apart. The Knicks reportedly put a four-year offer on the table worth about $200 million, while Towns is eligible for an extension worth roughly $276 million. New York is also trying to keep its payroll in line while holding together the roster that won the franchise’s first NBA championship since 1973.
For now, the Knicks have put extension talks on hold until later in the season. The goal is to keep everyone locked in on defending the title, but Towns was reportedly surprised by that move and disappointed by it, even though he has stayed committed to the team’s goals.
There’s another piece to this too: Josh Hart’s future is also in play. Hart and Towns are both extension-eligible, and the Knicks have to decide how to reward key players while navigating the NBA’s second-apron restrictions.
As has been reported, Hart’s long-term outlook has already been questioned, even as he and Towns have both publicly affirmed their ties to the franchise.
At the moment, Chicago and Los Angeles are only potential landing spots, not confirmed pursuers. Whether this becomes a real threat to New York’s championship defense comes down to Towns’ preference and how far the Knicks are willing to go to close the gap.
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