The New York Knicks are back in training camp as defending champions. The rings arrive on Oct. 20 against the 76ers at Madison Square Garden. For a fan base that waited over 50 years, this fall should feel easy.
But not every conversation in MSG is about defending the title. A few key pieces of that championship roster are heading into big years, and the front office has some tough money calls to make. Those talks have been slow.
SNY's Ian Begley shared an update in his training camp notes on Friday, and it was not the news fans hoped for. "It seems unlikely at this point that the Knicks will agree to extensions with Towns, Josh Hart or Miles McBride before the regular season," Begley wrote. Hart already said he does not expect a new deal before the season, and there is a reason for that.
Towns is the domino here. Whatever he signs decides how much money is left for everyone else. Right now, Towns and the Knicks are not on the same page.
The team has reportedly floated a deal starting around $45 million to $50 million a year. Towns is open to taking a pay cut, but he wants a smaller one. The bigger issue is the budget.
James Dolan does not want the Knicks over the second apron this season. Pay Towns, Hart and eventually Jalen Brunson, and there is not much room left for everyone. McBride could be the one who loses out.
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