Jalen Brunson’s decision to take less money on his four-year extension in 2024 did more than help the Knicks keep their books flexible. According to Carmelo Anthony, it may have changed the way teams around the league now look at their stars.
Brunson signed for around $156.5 million, and New York used that breathing room to make major additions around him. OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns came in to fortify the roster, and those moves helped fuel the Knicks’ run to their first championship in more than 50 years in the 2026 playoffs.
But the same deal that helped build a title team could also leave a complicated legacy. The Knicks now appear to be wrestling with the cost of keeping that core together, and recent talks with Towns and Josh Hart have stalled.
New York would like to bring both players back, but the sides have not been able to settle on a number that works. The team has since paused discussions until midway through the season, which does little to signal a quick resolution.
Anthony said Towns and Hart should be paid what they want, but he also pointed to Brunson’s contract as the kind of move that can create pressure on everyone who comes next. On his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, he said:
"That office that is crunching these numbers because he's the best in the business, they say this is the best we can do to stay out of that apron. That's what it was, and they offered it to KAT, and KAT probably said hell no... He (Brunson) set a precedent where now that precedent is being asked of the next person, and it’s two different situations," Melo said on his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast.
Anthony’s point is simple: once one star takes less, teams start expecting the same sacrifice from the next one. The Knicks may have felt that effect in their talks with Towns, and it’s a dynamic that could echo beyond New York. The San Antonio Spurs already did it with Victor Wembanyama in the 2026 offseason, and the idea could keep spreading if more front offices follow the same playbook.
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Knicks Still Have One Roster Decision That Could Get Expensive
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James Wiseman and Bruce Brown are now the remaining invitees in the mix, and the Knicks still have one choice left to make with real financial implications attached. For a team trying to keep its books clean while preserving optionality, the final call is less about the preseason box score and more about how much room the Knicks want to maintain once the regular season is underway. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Legend Carmelo Anthony Weighs In On LeBron Controversy
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Carmelo Anthony, never one to shy away from weighing in on matters involving his former teammate, has already pushed back publicly on the scrutiny. The former Knicks star criticized the investigation and defended James, adding another familiar voice to a story that now sits somewhere between league business and player loyalty. [Read more 🡒]
Andre Drummond May Be More Important To The Knicks Than Expected
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Brown has described Drummond as a possible organizer for the second unit, a role that could give the Knicks some structure when the starters sit. The bigger question is how that assignment looks once the games count, because the overall defensive performance still needs sharpening and Drummonds early impact may end up being measured less by numbers than by how well he helps hold the group together. [Read more 🡒]