[Charania] Karl-Anthony Towns is willing to take a lower deal to help the Knicks avoid the second apron, but the Knicks want him to take a $76M+ discount: “This is a growing cloud around the New York Knicks … These sides are not close.”
“Josh Hart has hinted that as this gets closer to February— which is around the trade deadline— the temperature could rise if Karl-Anthony Towns and Hart himself are not extended.”
Doesn’t Josh Hart have a team option for next year? Is he expecting the Knicks to simply replace that with a long term deal?
Hart wants the long term security. He plays hard, he plays through injuries, and he’s older. The number I remember being reported was 3 years 60m, so basically the same amount as the team option but for longer.
Three years 60m for Hart feels like a bargain, he is such a critical piece for the Knicks
That’ll definitely get inked just as soon as KATs deal is. This will be all nothing well before the deadline
Edit: corrected in the reply
They can’t actually negotiate KAT’s deal after the season starts.
By rule, players who have multiple years remaining on their contracts can be eligible for extensions. But their new deals have to be finalized during the offseason. Once the regular season begins, those players are no longer extension-eligible until the following summer. For example, Towns became eligible for an extension in summer 2025, but because he had two more guaranteed years remaining on his contract, he and the Knicks had to table talks once opening day came.
He does. And just wait until all that extensionitis sets in on his body, always gets harder to play under that kind of medical condition
I mean dude actually does play through a lot he doesn’t have to
I know “extensionitis” is a joke, but maybe that thumb injury should recooperate a bit if he has to essentially try out for his next team in a year
Yes, that’s probably exactly what he’s expecting.
I think he rightfully expects a fair extension
Player and team options are rarely taken unless the player is old or just performed amazing the season prior. You can consider a 4 year contract with an option pretty much a 3 year contract in these type of situations
Kawhi method is still unpatched KAT. Go for it. Just make sure you make a 30 sec video of you planting a tree and you should be good. Also, look into who makes MSG’s score boards.
Yeah just literally do anything, only reason Kawhi got caught up cuz he did nothing lol the rules are a joke
And let’s be honest, Kawhi made out like a bandit so he’s good
True, and I don’t mind that honestly. Punish the billionaire not the athlete, though Kawhi is dumb as hell for being so blatant
Meh idk, punish the billionaire more sure…but I think they’re both cheaters and deserve to be punished
Or at least just don’t name the holding company for his scam endorsement deals “KAT32(company name)”
Does he know anything about tree planting?
Can’t the Knicks just hire Karl Anthony Towns Sr.?
…he’s a kitten?
The Tree Fiddy discount
Knicks know plenty of other ways to circumvent the cap don’t you worry
Does he need to?
Ngl that’s crazy from the Knicks LOL
I get they’re trying to be smart with the more punitive cap rules, but also it was pretty obvious that would not sit well with KAT after how he good was in the playoffs
Who wouldn’t be pissed at missing out on $76 million?
i mean what does everybody think kat is worth in a vaccum. if 55-60 million a year is his baseline, then 50-55 should be the discount. not everybody is entitled to the supermax so there is no money being missed out on.
It’s not about what he’s worth in a vacuum though it’s about what he’s worth to the Knicks
If he was a free agent right now there are ~5 teams that would kill to have him on the max. Maybe 1 less now that Duren is back with the Pistons.
“we should negotiate a number between what we want and the concession I’ve already assigned him”
His baseline is the max obviously
Based on the figures being thrown around, he’s probably looking for mid-50s to low 60s (negotiations will probably be around 55m-57m). His argument is how many other players fit his profile -
Stretch 5, capable of shooting 3s at a high volume and hold his own vs Wemby.
It’s basically him and Chet (and Chet hasn’t shown the mental fortitude to do that* yet). Jokic is staying, Kristaps can’t stay healthy, and Myles Turner needs to put in the some work.
its alot more complicated if you have a rooting interest in the team. i mean i think you guys should give gobert a max extension, it sounds like im sabotaging your squad.
Maybe the Knicks should have thought about his next contract before trading for him or before not resigning Robinson. Right now it’s either sign Kat or rip Knicks. They could trade him but I don’t think many teams would be interested.
I think they are fine with the results of the KAT trade? How much better could it have gone?
Yeah, but getting multiple rings is worth it
The rings aren’t guaranteed. The money would be.
To be clear, KAT has made nearly $300M throughout his career so far. Like I get it - he played great and they wouldn’t have won without him, so he should be able to get his money. But that comes with a price depending on what his goals are
I don’t blame franchises for not wanting to pay max money until a player’s mid to late 30s if they want to stay competitive. But I also don’t blame players for wanting every dollar they can get on their last big contract.
I get the frustration from him but paying a 35 year old Towns close to $70 mil a year is team suicide
Sooner or later guys are going to have to realize that you can’t be the 2nd or 3rd best player on a team making max money, it’s just no longer feasible with the cba
Why does that matter if you’re winning chips when he’s 31 and 32.
NY isn’t going to be winning chips every year here. Fuck the future
Also, history has pretty well demonstrated that any number of shitty teams will take a bad contract off your hands if you attack a pick or two.
Well blame the way salary cap is set up. Players have to play on a rookie contract instead of having real earning power.
A guy like Wemby should’ve been worth tens of millions as a rookie, (as in 50-60 million per year)
None of that applies here to Towns’ situation, he’s made $285 million in career earning so far not counting this upcoming extension
If he really cared about the team going forward, a difference of $30-40 million does not matter in his future of a guy who will likely be closing in half a billion earned throughout his career
Asking players to take a discount as a favor to the owners is wild
Dolan is a fucking billionaire, blow past the second apron and pay the players
$30-40mm a year matters even less to billionaire owners. They can afford the cap penalties
[removed]
Why is that career suicide. Ima be honest players are playing longer now. He could be great at 35. Or they could have great success before he’s 35. He’s only 30 lol.
Except it wouldn’t be \(70 mil a year, because according to this KAT already said he’d be willing to take a pay cut. It just can’t be down from \)70m to $50m
Sooner or later someone is going to realize “do I need more than $100mil in life?” and take a pay cut that leads to a super deep team.
Hasn’t Dolan been pretty transparent that now that they won the ring, it’s time to cut down cost? Why are people surprised?
Then KAT should legitimately say the same thing I guess. I won, now money elsewhere then.
KAT has a $61M player option, he would have to decline that to go elsewhere.
That’s pretty scorched earth; he was born and raised in New York (New Jersey area). It’s also smart of him (for PR reasons) to show, “hey, I don’t want every single dollar but I do want to be paid or at least have a discussion about what I’m worth”
Dolan seems like such a fucking douchebag though. Like maybe not the worse owner but just someone who’s not pleasant to be around.
This is pretty clearly similar to what just happened with Duren. Both sides publicly said numbers they preferred, then they met somewhere in between. Entirely possible/likely this ends up with KAT getting like $58M, which is less than he could make on the open market but a better situation then getting maxed out in Brooklyn or Sacramento.
That said, still an outside chance he wants as much as he can get, contention be damned. Hope he stays, but I get the Knicks not thinking a max for mid-30s KAT is a recipe for future success.
Where did he say he’s cutting cost and not just avoiding the second apron?
Dolan is using the second apron as a boogeyman to save money.
It’s not like you go above it once and they confiscate all your future picks. You only get the harsh penalties if you remain about the apron for multiple years.
It’s the same thing. In order to avoid the 2nd apron, he is cutting cost. By avoiding the 2nd apron, he doesn’t have to pay more and get penalties
By avoiding the 2nd apron, he doesn’t have to pay more and get penalties
It’s not about paying more, it’s about the roster movement restrictions. Everyone knows this.
Obviously cheap ass Dolan is just trying to duck the 2nd apron. And knowing him, he will even tho it’s gonna break up the team.
e: NYK fans downvoting the truth they all know lmao
Yes Dolan the man who was notorious for overpaying for bad players for decades.
Dolan isn’t cheap. He spent years overpaying every washed up star and coach. He’s a terrible person and was too hands on as an owner but he’s never been cheap.
Going into the 2nd apron isn’t about the money, it’s about the extreme limits it puts on signings and trade options. It has nothing to do with him not wanting to pay and everything to do with preventing the team from being unable to make any moves if players end up declining or becoming a bad fit and need to be moved. Same reason as every other team ducking the 2nd apron. Not a Knicks fan either this is just the truth.
Calling Dolan cheap when he spends more than almost any other owner is crazy work. Save that word for the governors that deserve it.
[deleted]
You can call Dolan alot of things but he is far from cheap lmaooo. Shows how much you pay attention.
By all accounts he’s willing to pay the luxury tax, but the second apron stuff is where that line is being drawn. So more like not exorbitantly ballooning the cost as opposed to cutting it.
Based on history the odds of the Knicks repeating are very slim. They likely don’t get past the 2nd round. No champ other than OKC has gotten even close in the last decade.
So Dolan would be paying for past performance.
We may never see repeat champions again for a while unless cba changes come
It has nothing to do with that and Dolan has been pretty explicit that the roster construction limits imposed by passing the second apron as the reason why
This is the new NBA, GM’s and FO’s are being forced to be as frugal and creative as always to keep core’s together
Forced is a funny term giving it’s something the owners themselves fought for.
Creating the rules and then throwing their hands up like they’re the victim is a funny mental image
The players shouldn’t have agreed to the system.
Yeah the owners fought for
Doubt GM’s celebrated the apron rules when they passed through
That’s the same thing? He’s cutting cost by avoiding the second apron.
OP framed it as Dolan doesn’t want to spend the money
Dolan has publicly stated the rules of the second apron are “crippling”
The owners wanted this so they can be cheap and blame the rules despite them making the rules.
He literally got rid of all the ticket reps this season and jacked season ticket prices a bunch.
Never forget, Dolan is a bottom-5 owner
We never do
Took too long to find this branch. Dolan nearly fucked up the whole championship run by inviting the Traitor President. What makes you think he wouldn’t blow up the whole team because he’s a cheap asshole who’s resentful the team finally succeeded by pushing him out of the way?
When did I say I didn’t think Dolan could fuck this up?
No contract situation, other team, etc. is scarier to a Knicks fan than Dolan getting more involved again (see reactions to rehiring Isiah Thomas to the Knicks BOD)
This situation gonna get contentious. It would be hard to justify KAT making \(70M as a 34/35 year-old, but proposing that he take a \)10M pay cut vs what he’s making this year seems wild
Which team has the cap space to give KAT the max?
None, he’ll sign. Or be reunited with Ant.
As much as we want him back (and we REALLY do), we simply can’t afford him. Not without trading away 2 of Gobert, Jaden, and LaMelo.
I haven’t been keeping up, but aren’t you guys having similar convos with Rudy rn?
There’s a couple teams with a lot of space open next year, like Brooklyn and Memphis, to say nothing for other teams being able to make space if they wanted to. All that said, does KAT want to get paid more but play for a team maybe fighting for the play-in? Maybe he won his ring and is cool with that, but I’m guessing there’s a number higher than the Knicks are currently that is less than he could make elsewhere, but enough to keep him.
I can’t see him going back to an NBA wasteland, even if the money is good. I DO think he’d return to Minny. But that’s not really on the menu, which is why he ultimately returns to the Knicks.
He is 35 though, and that’s the kicker. He wants that last big contract but them days are behind us
If the Kings were willing to give Duren the max, they sure as hell would do the same for KAT
Duren max is like \(50mil. This is \)70mil in cap space
Oh I fully understand their maxes are different amounts. I’m just saying that the Kings’ front office is so desperate for talent, and has shown a repeated willingness to overpay for it, that I’m confident they’d be willing to bring KAT in on a 35% max.
In case anyone forgot how good Towns was last playoffs:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2026_advanced.html
Sort by BPM, WS/48, PER, or whatever advanced stat you like
Factor in that he sacrified down to a 20.6% usage (vs. 25.9% in regular season and 26.8% over his career)
The Knicks have a bad owner. It makes the fact they won all the more impressive. Nonetheless teams are creating all kinds drama with their stars over this Apron system. The players association got bamboozled by the owners who now experience harsh penalties for overspending. This will keep happening. Either Brunson loses KAT or he loses his Villanova guys within a season or two.
It’s not crazy it’s the reality of what you can afford to pay your second/third best player under the second apron. If KAT decides the extra money is more important than competing for a title/competing for a title with the Knicks that’s his prerogative but it’s not crazy for the Knicks to offer him more or less the max they can give him if they want to keep a championship core together
Frankly, this is exactly what the cap rules are intended to do. I think it’s great. They aren’t asking for a discount on his value, they’re asking for a specific number so they don’t have to work harder elsewhere. I hope the Knicks pay him his worth. Also I get that the second apron comes with a lot of penalties, but you can go into it to keep major pieces together. If a team that just won the championship and looks like the clear favorite to repeat in the East isn’t worth that then I dunno what team is.
Well do you want ring or money. Gotta pick one.
The ring is money. This is the problem. Dolan will make a lot more money if the Knicks win another ring.
MAMDANI DO SOMETHING
Nah, disenfranchise Dolan or make him sell the team to someone who can afford keeping the core together.
Or better, yet, make the Knicks the team of nyc citizens, governed by capable gms, like Brad Stevens or presti.
That would literally break USA.
Mamdani, sponsor KAT for 70 million
It’s not a \(76 million discount if nobody else is willing or able to pay him \)276 million.
That’s like saying I’m taking a pay cut at my job for taking less than the highest salary anyone could possibly ever make doing it even though me making that much would never be an option.
Well yeah but then he can take that 76m discount somewhere else. Its clear players feel a certain type of way when their teams do this to them.
I think some teams are willing to pay him that much after seeing the success he had against wemby. That’s what everyone is looking for right now. How do we slow down wemby? Well Kat has the foot speed and strength to stay in front of him and can shoot the 3 that wemby just can’t stay in the paint protecting the rim.
If he feels that 240m-250 is reasonable open market rate (some teams definitely offer that range), asking 220-230m is still a discount.
Yeah but not $76M which is the point
Exactly who else is willing to pay Kat that ?
And this is why the NBA does not have a back to back Champ since the 2017-2018 Warriors…
The Knicks under Leon Rose and Worldwide Wes were so patient and methodical in building this Championship team.
But the second apron is making it impossible for them and other legitimate contenders to keep the core they worked so hard to built.
Knicks were able to win a championship due to second apron. They don’t get KAT unless Wolves trade him due to second apron.
Second apron-ception
Ayo dog, I heard you liked second aprons? What if I put a second apron in the dashboard of your second apron?
Injuries are also a huge part. But the second apron needs to be amended in the future. Or they set up a bonus that doesn’t count towards the cap/apron. For example, Kat earns an extra 2 million for making the all star game.
Dolan is also being cheap he can go second apron like many teams have and are doing. The highest luxury tax he has paid is 45m 20 years ago.
I believe only one team is in the second apron, who do you believe is in the second apron?
Yeah, if anything, teams are making drastic moves to avoid the second apron, especially for multiple years. Right now I think Denver is the only team in, per Sportrac.
Reports from the FO was that they were surprised Dolan didn’t want to go into the second apron for this year at least. They expected to be able to keep the core together for another few years.
Exactly, every cap expert and other front offices have come out and said it’s suprising. The harsh penalties you incur in the second apron is only after multiple years above the second apron.
It’s exactly what the league and people want. Knicks got a championship and there will likely be another champ next year. The NBA rightly understands it’s an entertainment product far above a great basketball product. It’s a league that is fueled by drama - it’s an urban soap opera.
It’s working EXACTLY as intended
I’m cool with that.
You can say that but you could also say it’s because of injuries. Jalen Williams is healthy and we probably do have a back to back champ.
Charania is a dirtbag btw
Why?
trade him to the celtics for paul george and a pick swap
Knicks finally win a chip in like 50 years and of course Dolan is being a cheap fuck.
They wanna pay him less than they pay OG on an annual basis. 50 mil for KAT to about 53 mil for OG.
I think 55 mil a year is a good compromise but if they don’t want to even give him 220 million a year, I don’t see a deal happening
OG is the more impactful player
The Knicks do not win the championship with out KAT. As good as OG is, KAT is there second best player and it really shouldn’t be a debate
Do you think they win that championship without OG?
More likely without OG than without KAT.
their
Also less likely to be sidelined the whole game for foul trouble
That White House trip is looking like it’s about to be a requirement for all these guys that want to be paid
Dolan is going to expect an all time glaze off for his hubby
KAT to the Lakers
He’s too dark.
Can they just pay him like Bobby Bonilla? Pay him for the next 53 year for being essential in bringing a Knicks championship to NYC. The Knicks will have Karl Anthony Towns day every year on the day of the payment.
Bro just pass around a KAT collection plate each game. You’ll get the money.
KAT will be 31 in November, 57 million this year?, he has a player option for 61,000,000 in 2027⁄2028. I think Steph is the only player making 60 million this year. A handfull of players like Embiid , Anthony Davis, Jokic, Giannis, will crack 60M next year, Tatum will be getting 70M in year 29⁄30. I don’t know what the answer is but I am resetting my franchise if the other option is to give KAT 270M for his age 32 to 36 years. I think the NBA Owners /Players Association has to fix this. 35% of the cap in year one of the contract plus 8% increases seems stupid for a franchise wth 15 players.
Just find a middle ground and make a deal before the season. I think that’s the best for both sides
Oh hey Magic, didn’t realize you’re on reddit now
Give him 76 million in msg stock
Everybody phrasing everything in doomsday terms.
Even if it isn’t done today, the guy is around a lot longer. Why do we need to act like this is a hammer to fall?
Exactly lol. The forced urgency from the media regarding this is just indicative of them having nothing else to talk about
It’s crazy to say \(76M isn't much but bro it's \)200M I think at some point you just say yes when it’s $200M
Or is that not enough to feed his kids or whatever?
fuck the CBA(not biased)
This will get resolved but until then I expect the same article to be rewritten 20 times a day.
fuck james dolan
Plant those trees
Is the poison pill contract not allowed anymore?
KAT should come play with Draymond
So confused and really dont know anything about the cap…..how can any team afford Brunson, Towns and crew at the max….
KATLANTA
Let KAT walk
Just give him some ownership stake sroblem polved.
He gone
Second Apron is on a generational run.
Losing KAT to another contender would be insane
Is it a discount if he’s not worth that $76 million?
Dont do it Kat .. play this year and try to repeat. If they still low ball leave . It’s business nvr personal
This guy has made almost half a billion and he’s not a number one option on this team
It’s called negotiating.
Does kat want another ring, or is he gonna go elsewhere? Cmon son
Time to trade
Knicks arnt sniffing the Finals even if they DO bring back KAT. Dolan is not an idiot.
4 years 240 million should be the max the Knicks offer and more then enough for KAT to get his money while also giving the Knicks a team friendly deal.
I wish he would do it for 4 years 232 million cause that’s 58 million a year and that extra 2 million a year would help immensely but 4 years 240 millions should get this done.
KAT deserves more then 4 years 200 million but 4 years 276 million is waaaaayyyyy too much money for him
It’s not a growing cloud. The man is contracted through this season regardless. It isn’t a Jalen Duren situation.
Shams is such a lil bitch *goofball
Kat should take 4 for 230-240. That’s plenty fair. He’s valuable no question. But he is not worth almost 70 a year. OG just as valuable to us isn’t even hitting 50 a year.
Can’t take a \(240m deal if the Knicks are only offering \)200m
If he’s eligible for 276 and they’re asking him to take a 75m discount that means they’re offering him 200m max
Yes I’m aware of how math works. Thanks.
So how can he take 230-240m if that’s not being offered
55m AAV should be fair for both sides but completely understandable if KAT doesn’t wanna go that low
Get rid of max contracts. If there no max number then no offer is a “discount” it is just the offer.
Only way i see this happening is 230M 3yrs+1 Team option
I’d be shocked if he took a team option. All-NBA caliber players don’t ever have to concede a year like that.
How do you see that happening? There is no way KAT goes for that
Well yeah, my point kinda was that a deal that “works” is very unlikely
4 for 220-228 works well enough. Who cares about year 4 when everybody on the roster has aged out of their prime by then
This is the issue with being nice or going out of your way to help someone. They don’t see it as something to be thankful for, but start to expect it.
Watch KAT end up in Philly.