Insider gets real about state of Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns extension talks

Insider gets real about state of Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns extension talks originally appeared on The Sporting News

Karl-Anthony Towns' inaugural season with the New York Knicks in 2024-25 went about as well as anyone could have reasonably expected.

The 7-foot Kentucky center, 29, suited up for 72 contests with the 51-31 Knicks last year, averaging 24.4 points on .526/.420/.829 shooting splits, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists a night. For the second straight season, Towns helped lead his squad to a Conference Finals berth.

He was named to his fifth All-Star squad and his third All-NBA team for his efforts.

Towns inked a four-year, $220.4 million Designated Veteran Player contract extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the summer of 2022. By the 2024 offseason, with that money slated to kick in, Minnesota gave up on him, offloading him to the Knicks for cap relief.

MORE NEWS:Knicks nearing deal to re-sign former Larry Brown-era coach

Technically, Towns is already eligible to re-negotiate a contract extension as he enters the second year of his deal.

But New York — who just negotiated a lucrative contract extension with All-Defensive Team swingman Mikal Bridges this summer — might not have an appetite to extend Towns just yet.

During a new episode of his "The Hoop Collective Podcast," ESPN's Brian Windhorst explained New York's thinking.

"The Knicks have the option of riding this core out, or their pathway forward is to make a trade," Windhorst said. "Mikal Bridges got extended this summer. We have not heard anything about Karl-Anthony Towns getting extended."

New York's core comprises All-NBA stars Towns and Jalen Brunson, All-Defensive Team wings Bridges and OG Anunoby, and shooting guard Josh Hart. The team's top two bench pieces last season, center Mitchell Robinson and guard Miles McBride, will be joined by free agent signings Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson to shore up the club's top nine. 

"And I don't think it has a commentary on Towns or the season he had. I just think that Towns has three years and about 160 million left on his contract," Windhorst said. "Actually, I think it's more than that, I think it's 170 and there would be some challenge to trade that."

MORE NEWS:Knicks, Mikal Bridges agree to a four-year contract extension