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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The bigger question is where he actually slots best in New Yorks rotation. His impact has been noticeably better when he shares the floor with Karl-Anthony Towns than when he is paired with other centers, a reminder that lineup context matters as much as individual effort. Alvarado has dealt with shooting slumps like this before and also has a track record of working his way out of them, but for now the Knicks are still trying to sort out what his most effective version looks like. [Read more 🡒]
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From the Knicks side, it is the kind of episode that fuels the old suspicion that rival front offices sometimes care just as much about blocking a competitor as improving their own roster. If Dallas does end up moving on from Cisse after matching the offer, it would only sharpen the sense that the Mavericks first choice was driven by something beyond the player himself. For a Knicks fan base already attuned to every slight, it is the sort of front-office drama that is easy to side-eye. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Rebuild Could Put One Veteran's Future In Immediate Doubt
Karl-Anthony Towns has already made clear what the Knicks think they added in Andre Drummond, calling the veteran center a valuable piece after he arrived on a one-year minimum deal following his season in Philadelphia. For a team that is trying to stay in the thick of the East, Drummond gives New York another experienced frontcourt option, and his presence only adds to the depth questions that will follow the roster all season.
The bigger roster watch, though, may be how the Knicks balance short-term stability with longer-term decisions around the edges. Miles McBrides extension talks have reportedly stalled, which has fueled speculation he could be moved before the February deadline, while the team is also hoping Mohamed Diawara takes a step forward in his second year. Across town, the Nets are still sorting out their own rebuilding path, with their playoff hopes tied to young-player growth and possible trade maneuvering, a backdrop that could shape the market New York has to navigate. [Read more 🡒]