Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns gets major contract update from NBA insider with one guarantee originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Knicks are going to be a team closely watched this season as they look to build on their success as NBA champions. The Knicks got everything clicking at the right time last season, and now it is up to them to keep that momentum going.
The organization had the opportunity to extend Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart before the season started. However, the Knicks opted against doing so, instead focusing on the upcoming 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. 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," a Knicks spokesperson told ESPN's Shams Charania.
Before the Knicks shut down extension discussions, Towns reportedly wasn't satisfied with the offer on the table. Still, the veteran big man remains vocal about his desire to keep the core group together in New York.
“I want us all to stay together. That's always been my main priority. Nowhere in my mind was a max contact was even thought about,” Towns told ESPN’s Malika Andrews.
Of course, the question remains whether the two sides will ultimately reach an agreement. There are several important decisions for the Knicks to make, and team insider Ian Begley recently shared his thoughts on the situation. He believes there is enough common ground for both sides to get a deal done when negotiations resume.
“An extension with Towns and the Knicks is going to get done - there's enough common ground there to figure it out,” Begley wrote.
There is no doubt that Towns wants to stay in New York. At this point, it is simply a matter of what the Knicks are willing to offer him financially. New York has a strong core and will likely do everything it can to keep the group together.
Although extension discussions are currently on hold, there is reason for optimism on both sides. The Knicks' future looks bright if they can maintain their core, and securing Towns' long-term future will be an important part of that plan.
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