The Knicks may be staring at a Karl-Anthony Towns extension this summer, but that’s not really the headache that should keep New York up at night.
Yes, Towns is headed toward a new deal, and the big man has a player option for the 2027-28 season. That makes an extension feel inevitable.
It could get expensive, too, and New York might have to trim some depth to make the numbers work. Still, that part of the equation is manageable.
The bigger issue is what comes after.
Because the real squeeze hits the following year, when OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart all come due in a much tougher way.
If the Knicks want to stay below the second apron - and that appears to be the plan - then keeping all three of those players together may simply not be realistic. At some point, New York may have to choose.
Towns should command a max extension. He deserves one, and while there’s always the possibility he takes a pay cut like Brunson did, the more likely outcome is that he asks for top dollar. The Knicks should be prepared to give it to him.
On its own, that doesn’t break anything. New York can build a strong roster with Towns on a max. The problem is the chain reaction it creates down the line.
Hart has a team option for the 2027-28 season, and the Knicks will almost certainly pick it up. Brunson and Anunoby both have player options in 2028-29, and both are expected to decline them when it’s time to chase their next contracts.
That’s where the bill really comes due. Brunson will want a max.
Anunoby will be looking for something close. Hart will want a major payday of his own.
Paying all three while also staying under the second apron may be, quite literally, impossible.
So Towns isn’t the problem by himself. He’s the setup. The looming extension is just the first domino, and the harsh reality is that New York will likely have to trade at least one of Brunson, Anunoby, or Hart over the next two years.
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Knicks Could Face A Costly 2027 Decision Around Karl-Anthony Towns
The 2027 free-agent picture already looks like it could get crowded in a hurry, with a number of marquee names potentially lining up for the market if contracts and player-option decisions break a certain way. For the Knicks, that looming class matters because it adds another layer to every long-term roster conversation, especially with the salary cap set to keep squeezing contenders and make every major commitment carry extra weight.
Karl-Anthony Towns sits right at the center of that math, and the Knicks will have to think carefully about how they map out the next two seasons around him. His future is part of a much bigger leaguewide picture, one that could be shaped by extension talks, opt-out decisions and how teams view their chances of keeping a title core intact without running into harsh financial penalties. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Are Losing Two More Pieces Of Their Championship Core
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Gersson Rosas is also leaving, with the vice president of basketball operations announcing his departure from the organization. Rosas was part of the front office that helped build the championship-winning roster, so his exit removes another familiar piece from the machinery that got the Knicks to this point, even if the bigger core remains in place. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Get An Early Test Against A Raptors Threat Fans Cant Ignore
The East keeps shifting around New York, and one of the more intriguing ripple effects could come from Toronto. With the 76ers, Heat and Pacers all reshaping themselves in a big way, the Raptors are the club Knicks fans may want to watch most closely if their own offseason picture is going to get clearer. A potential move for Kawhi Leonard would instantly change the way that matchup looks, especially with the Knicks trying to measure themselves against the top of the conference.
They will not have to wait long to get a read on it. New York is set to see Toronto twice in the preseason, which should offer an early look at how the two teams stack up before the games start counting. If the Raptors do end up making that kind of splash, those October meetings could feel less like tune-ups and more like a first glimpse at a rival the Knicks may be chasing all season. [Read more 🡒]