The Knicks nearly kept the band together after their championship run, losing only Mitchell Robinson from their rotation. Keeping everyone happy is challenging, though.
New York is finding that out as the 2026-27 season approaches, with both Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart asking for contract extensions after the magical journey to a title.
While the Knicks were able to lock in Jalen Brunson long-term on a discount deal two years ago, finding common ground with Towns and Hart has been more difficult.
Here's the latest update on extension talks between the Knicks and two of their key pieces.
MORE: Ranking every NBA starter for 2026-27 season
Knicks table Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart extension talks
The Knicks announced Friday that they won't discuss new contracts with any players until "later in the season."
"As an organization, our entire focus is on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of," the team said. "As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season."
Towns and Hart are both eligible for extensions, along with Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek. Because expiring contracts are the only deals that can be extended after Oct. 19, Towns would have to decline his player option for 2027-28 to receive a long-term deal during the season, Spotrac's Keith Smith noted.
Knicks have four players who are extension-eligible: K. Towns J. Hart M. McBride T. Kolek Because only expiring deals can be extended after October 19, Towns would have to decline his PO for 27-28, and the team would have to decline TOs for Hart & Kolek to extend them in-season.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) October 9, 2026NBA on Prime's Chris Haynes reported Towns is willing to accept less than a max contract to keep the core together in New York, but a "sizable gap" still remains between the two sides. Hart, meanwhile, has a team option for 2027-28 that would have to be declined for the Knicks to extend him in-season.
MORE: Stephen A. Smith blasts James Dolan over KAT drama
When is Karl-Anthony Towns a free agent?
Towns can become a free agent as early as next summer, as he has a $61 million player option for 2027-28 that he could decline in search of a longer-term deal.
The Knicks have Towns under contract for $57.1 million this season, after he made $53.1 million last season. If Towns makes it to free agency, he would be one of the biggest names available on what's become a quiet market under the NBA's current rules.
