The Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns problem is getting more expensive by the game.
New York entered the season with plenty of moving parts as it tries to defend the NBA championship it won a few months ago, and injuries have already added another layer of difficulty. But the biggest noise around the team started before the opener, when Towns became eligible for a contract extension and the sides reportedly never got close to the number he wanted.
“The word on the street over the last few weeks is that Towns wants something in the $225-240 million range on a four-year extension… When asked about not receiving an extension, Towns was upset, but he made it clear that it is just business," NBA insider Brett Siegel wrote.
Towns has since made it plain that he feels the Knicks have not put an offer on the table that matches his value. He has also suggested he would be willing to take a pay cut to stay in New York, though exactly how far he’d go remains unclear.
“Simply put - I want to do something to keep the team together and can work with the Knicks and also values me. And none of those things are close to happening," Towns said.
That standoff may not last forever. New York is expected to revisit the contract situation during the regular season, but Towns is making the decision harder by the night. His play to start the year has pushed his value higher, and he’s performing like an All-NBA player.
“After all the noise that surrounded Karl-Anthony Towns coming into this season about contracts and whatever else, Towns is off to nothing short of a tremendous start to the year. All-NBA basketball night after night,” The Athletic’s Fred Katz wrote.
That kind of production makes the Knicks’ position tougher. Letting him leave would look like a major mistake, but New York has also made it clear it does not want to push into the second apron. If Towns keeps playing at this level, the gap between what he wants and what the Knicks are willing to do could get even wider.
And the longer this goes, the more leverage Towns may have. If his market value keeps climbing, the question becomes whether he’s still willing to take less to stay in New York, or whether the money starts to matter more.
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