The Knicks spent part of the summer kicking the tires on reserve big-man options, and one of the names that came up was Pelicans forward/center Karlo Matkovic, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
New York’s push to land Matkovic didn’t go anywhere, which is why he remains in New Orleans. Begley also says the Knicks are expected to add multiple veterans on non-guaranteed training camp deals as they sort out the third center spot.
There’s also the Karl-Anthony Towns situation to watch. James L.
Edwards III of The Athletic recently said he believed the Knicks would offer Towns an extension this offseason, though not a maximum-salary one for the six-time All-Star big man. Begley’s read is similar: he doesn’t expect a max offer, but he does think a deal gets done unless New York comes in with an offer that’s “insultingly low.”
He speculates an extension for Towns could begin at around $45MM. Towns has a $61MM player option for 2027/28, which means he stays extension-eligible all season.
If the sides don’t strike a new agreement before opening night, he’d need to decline that ’27/28 option and replace it with the first year of a new contract to extend during the season.
Josh Hart and Miles McBride are two more Knicks eligible for extensions this offseason, and Begley sees a Hart deal as the likelier outcome. McBride, he notes, is already on a very team-friendly contract and probably isn’t eager to take a discount on his next one. Hart, meanwhile, may be more open to a less lucrative arrangement as New York looks to defend its title in 2026/27.
Then there’s Tyler Nickel, the Knicks’ second-round pick, who appears to be trending toward signing with New York rather than heading back to college. Jared Schwartz of The New York Post reports that Nickel is “leaning toward” joining the Knicks after recently being granted - at least temporarily - a fifth year of NCAA eligibility.
There have been mixed reports on whether the former Vanderbilt sharpshooter wants to jump to the NBA or return to school for what would likely be a bigger payday, but Schwartz says there’s “momentum” behind the NBA route. And even if Nickel decides to go back to college, the Knicks would still hold his draft rights, making him essentially a domestic draft-and-stash prospect.
In Other News...
Knicks May Be Misreading Deuce McBrides Real Roster Value
The conversation around Deuce McBride has taken on a familiar Knicks wrinkle: a useful young guard who gets talked about like a potential trade chip before anyone really settles his actual price. McBrides role and usage have made him easy to project into bigger talks, but the latest read on his value suggests New York may be looking at a player whose re-signing number is not as daunting as some around the league have assumed.
Jordan Goodwins three-year, $19 million deal is one of the cleaner reference points for where McBride could fit in the market, and that comparison matters for a Knicks team trying to balance flexibility with keeping workable backcourt depth. Unless a genuinely strong trade offer emerges, the safer play may be to hold onto McBride through next season and let the market sort itself out rather than treat him like a piece that has to be moved before free agency. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Just Gave Fans A Real Reason To Dream Bigger
The Knicks are heading into the 2026-27 season with something they have not had in more than half a century: the weight and confidence of being champions. After ending a 53-year title drought by winning the 2026 NBA Finals, the franchise now finds itself in the unfamiliar position of being talked about as a possible repeat contender, not just a feel-good champion. That change did not happen by accident. A better net rating, a different approach on the bench after Tom Thibodeau gave way to Mike Brown, and fewer minutes for key players all helped drive a more efficient title run.
Mike Browns arrival gave the group a different rhythm, and the Knicks benefited from a cleaner, more sustainable style over the course of the season. Repeating in the NBA is notoriously hard, especially compared with other major North American sports, which is why the conversation around New York is already shifting from celebration to survival. The challenge now is not proving the title was real. It is handling the expectations that come with it, and keeping enough in reserve to make another long run possible. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Could Soon Face A Costly Josh Hart Decision
Josh Harts next contract is already shaping up to be one of the Knicks more delicate financial conversations. He is eligible for an extension that could run as long as four years and $131.2 million, and even if that number is more ceiling than expectation, it puts New York in a familiar spot: trying to reward a valuable rotation piece without boxing itself into a corner. The team also holds a $22.4 million option on Hart for the 2027-28 season, which only adds another layer to the timing and leverage involved.
The backdrop here is the same one that shadows every contender with a rising payroll, especially in a market like New York where every future dollar matters. Recent deals for players such as Dillon Brooks and Naji Marshall offer a sense of how quickly the price for dependable wing help can climb, and the Knicks are hoping their broader success can help keep Harts next contract from becoming even more expensive. For now, the challenge is less about whether Hart fits than how much that fit will cost. [Read more 🡒]