The New York Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns have been all over the headlines over the last couple of weeks as contract talks have not gone as planned. However, there is mutual agreement that both sides want to remain together.
Towns was hoping to get a deal done before the October 19 deadline, as extending him later would become more expensive.
“Failing to extend KAT before the start of the season would wipe the most intuitive contract structure off the table. KAT receiving the money he wants…and the Knicks maintaining the payroll flexibility they insist upon becomes even tougher after Oct. 19,” The Athletic’s Fred Katz wrote.
That possibility has come to a screeching halt, as something changed before the regular season could begin. The Knicks have stopped all contract extension negotiations and will now focus on the season ahead.
“As an organization, our entire focus is on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of. As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season,” a Knicks spokesperson told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
This puts another interesting asterisk on what comes next for Towns. There could be a real problem if the two sides cannot find common ground. ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins believes the center should consider joining the Golden State Warriors.
“If I’m Karl-Anthony Towns, I’m looking at old Steph Curry and Golden State,” Perkins said.
After all, the Warriors need a reliable starting center, especially with Kristaps Porzingis having a history of health concerns. Towns could form an intriguing duo with Steph Curry, as the two could thrive in pick-and-roll situations.
Towns’ relationship with the Knicks could reach a difficult point if the contract situation remains unresolved. Golden State could be an appealing landing spot as he figures out the next step in his career. New York will have to be careful about how it handles the situation.
