The New York Knicks are not expected to offer Karl-Anthony Towns a maximum contract extension, despite the star big man being eligible for a four-year, $272 million deal.
The New York Knicks may be coming off a championship season, but one major financial decision continues to hang over the franchise.
Karl-Anthony Towns remains under contract for the next two seasons, including a player option, yet his long-term future in New York is already becoming a significant talking point.
According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, the Knicks are expected to offer Towns a contract extension. However, they are not expected to put the full four-year, $272 million maximum deal on the table.
"One thing I'm certain of is that New York's decision-makers will offer Towns an extension," Edwards wrote. "What I'm not certain of, and don't expect, is whether the cash-conscious Knicks will offer him a max contract."
Towns eligible for $272 million deal
Towns was already eligible to sign an extension last offseason, but the two sides did not reach an agreement.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old is scheduled to earn slightly more than $57 million during the upcoming season. His current contract also includes a player option worth more than $61 million for the following campaign.
Should Towns decline that option, he could become an unrestricted free agent after the 2027-28 season.
While the Knicks are expected to attempt to secure his future, their desire to maintain long-term financial flexibility could prevent them from offering the full four-year, $272 million extension.
Brunson's contract could influence negotiations
Karl-Anthony Towns Jalen Brunson New York Knicks NBA championship
Karl-Anthony Towns Jalen Brunson New York Knicks NBA championship
Jalen Brunson's previous contract decision could also create an additional talking point during Towns' negotiations.
Brunson accepted a deal below the maximum amount available to him, allowing the Knicks to preserve greater flexibility while continuing to build their championship-winning roster.
His financial sacrifice has since fueled a wider debate around whether NBA stars should accept less money to improve their teams' chances of competing for titles.
Towns now finds himself in a similar position, although expecting him to follow Brunson's example could place an unfair burden on the three-time All-NBA selection.
New York must ultimately decide whether Towns' importance to its championship roster justifies a maximum extension or whether a smaller offer would better protect the organization's future flexibility.
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