The New York Knicks have put contract extension discussions on hold, leaving Josh Hart’s long-term future unsettled. A new report adds another layer to the situation, suggesting Karl-Anthony Towns had been the front office’s priority before talks were paused. Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported that the Knicks prioritized Towns’ extension over Hart’s.
Towns was the only one of the four extension-eligible players whose representatives were seriously engaged in talks. Hart, Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek were also eligible. This does not mean New York plans to move on from Hart, but his negotiations had not advanced as far.
The Knicks announced Friday, Oct. 9, that all extension discussions would be postponed until later in the season. A spokesperson said their “entire focus” was preparing for the season and that the team “will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season.” The pause applies to all four players, not Hart alone. Money complicates both cases.
Towns is reportedly eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $276 million, while Hart has a team option for 2027-28. Owner James Dolan wants to stay below the NBA’s second apron, forcing the Knicks to weigh the cost of retaining their title-winning core. The pause does not mean Hart will be traded, but his future remains unclear.
Both players posted positive messages about New York on X after the announcement. Hart wrote “NY 🧡💙,” while Towns shared “Always Love 🧡💙.” Neither post directly addressed the stalled negotiations, but both signaled support for the franchise. Towns later said the pause surprised him, telling reporters Sunday, “It was news to me” and that he was “very disappointed.” He still stressed the need to focus on basketball.
Hart’s post was upbeat, but the report leaves a question: will New York revisit his deal when talks resume, or preserve financial flexibility?
Extract — continue reading at the source.
