The Knicks begin their preseason Monday night, but one of the key figures in last season’s title run is still at odds with the team over a contract extension.
“It don’t look good,” Karl-Anthony Towns said Monday of getting a new contract in place before the start of the regular season.
Karl-Anthony Towns is eligible for a four-year deal worth more than $276 million. He’s owed $57 million this season and has a $61.1 million player option for next. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, New York’s latest offer was a four-year deal worth about $200 million, well short of what he’s eligible for.
The six-time All-Star was a catalyst in the Knicks’ playoff run, averaging 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists. New York beat the San Antonio Spurs in a five-game Finals and ended a 53-year title drought.
So, should the Knicks reward him for his part in that? It’s not that simple. Owner James Dolan has said the team won’t go into the second spending apron, which means tough decisions are coming.
The Knicks already let backup center Mitchell Robinson walk this offseason. He was the longest-tenured Knick on last year’s team and signed with the Boston Celtics.
Towns says he understands how hard it is to keep a championship core together. But in his view, the team hasn’t done enough to meet him in the middle.
“Simply put, I want to do something that can keep the team together and work with the Knicks and also values me,” Towns said. “None of those things have come close to happening.”
