The 2026–27 NBA season hasn’t even officially started, and yet the defending champions New York Knicks might already be facing a mini‑crisis of sorts.
That’s because contract uncertainties involving two key players—Karl‑Anthony Towns and Josh Hart—are looming. The two, who were both critical to the Knicks’ improbable title run last season, are eligible for lucrative contract extensions, but none have signed any deal with just a couple of weeks before the NBA’s new season tips off.
Knicks Far Off From Towns, Hart
According to multiple reports, deals for Hart and Towns haven’t been consummated because the sides are far apart in numbers.
Towns, for his part, is eligible for a four‑year deal worth in excess of $276 million, but the Knicks are reportedly offering roughly $200 million for the same amount of years. Naturally, that’s not sitting well with the big man, who believes he deserves the full $276 after starring for New York in its championship run. But, according to Towns himself, a deal “don’t look good” at the moment.
“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.”
Hart, on the other hand, is eligible for a four‑year, $131.2 million extension. The problem is, the Knicks cannot finalize his numbers without knowing yet the terms of Towns’ possible extension since owner James Dolan supposedly is adamant New York stays under the second tax apron. The veteran glue guy has been diplomatic about this contract stalemate, promising to play as hard as he can for the Knicks and New York even with his extension still unresolved.
“We know at the end of the day, it’s a business. You have situations like that and you never know what’s going to happen, but for me, as long as I wear this jersey, I’m going to play as hard as I can for my guys and the city,” Hart assured the Knicks faithful.
Why the Knicks Should Be Worried
While Towns and Hart are expected to suit up for the defending champions, Dolan better move fast for a resolution because as Hart put it, unresolved contract talks lead to uncertainty that could distract from what the Knicks want to accomplish this upcoming season.
“You always want to get it done, kind of as soon as possible. You don’t want that trickling into the season because whenever there’s uncertainty, there’s going to be a lot of questions,” Hart pointed out.
Those questions, if they arise, could be addressed during the season or tabled for the next offseason. But they could potentially weigh down New York’s bid for back‑to‑back titles if not handled right. The silver lining in all this is that Dolan and the Knicks have until October 20 to work out those extensions.
