Josh Hart has become the kind of player the Knicks can’t really replace, which is why a new deal is starting to feel less like a luxury and more like part of the plan.
Since New York acquired him from the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023 in the Cam Reddish trade, Hart has settled in as the emotional engine of the group - the “heart and soul” label fits because he does a little bit of everything and does it with real force. That was on full display in 2024-25, when he led the league in minutes at 37.6 per game and was part of a starting five that helped bring a championship to the Garden for the first time in 53 years.
Hart is set to make $20.9 million this season, with a team option for $22 million next year. Ian Begley has reported that an extension could be in play, and Hart may not be the only Knicks cornerstone in line for one, with Karl-Anthony Towns also potentially headed for a major payday before the season begins.
There are obvious reasons some teams might pause. Hart is already over 30, and he’s logged heavy minutes since arriving in New York.
But from the Knicks’ perspective, that shouldn’t change the thinking. Even if an extension for Hart - or Towns - doesn’t age perfectly in the final years, the bigger priority is winning now, not worrying about four or five seasons down the road.
That’s where Hart’s value gets even clearer. The Knicks have built chemistry around this core, and keeping that group intact matters if they want to stay in the championship mix.
Yes, spending flexibility on the back end would take a hit. But the article’s point is simple: that part of the window probably won’t matter as much anyway if the goal is to capitalize on the current one.
And there’s no easy replacement for what Hart brings. He’s one of the league’s best glue guys, and he fills up a box score in ways that go beyond the usual role-player label. He defends with high energy, attacks the glass like a much bigger man, and has shown he can deliver in key moments.
One game that captures it came against the Milwaukee Bucks last November. In a 118-109 Knicks win, Hart logged 39:54, scored 19 points, pulled down 15 rebounds, handed out seven assists, hit two passes that led to clutch threes, and added three steals.
That performance was one of 13 games in which Hart finished with double-digit points and rebounds. It’s the kind of all-around impact that doesn’t show up every night in the same way, but it adds up fast for a team trying to chase another title.
Hart won’t get a max deal, but the expectation is something in the range of a three-year contract worth $50 million to $60 million. That would give the Knicks cost certainty on one of their most trusted players, while also giving Hart the kind of life-changing money that fits one of his last major contracts.
For New York, the message is straightforward: keep the core together, and Hart should be part of that effort.
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