Knicks pause contract talks with Hart and Towns as season approaches

A Knicks spokesperson said the team will not negotiate extensions until after the season starts, while Hart says he remains confident the situation will resolve.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 11 Oct 2026 02:22:23 GMT

The New York Knicks announced on Friday that they are suspending all contract‑extension negotiations with eligible players, including guard Josh Hart and center Karl‑Anthony Towns, as they gear up to defend their NBA title.

What happened

The team’s statement, released on Friday, said the organization will focus solely on preparing for the upcoming season and will not engage in extension talks until later in the campaign. The pause applies to players eligible for extensions, namely Towns, Hart, and guards Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek.

What the reports add

Bleacher Report noted that Towns is eligible for a four‑year, $276 million extension, but the Knicks have reportedly offered a four‑year deal worth about $200 million, according to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III said Hart is eligible for a four‑year extension worth up to roughly $132 million, while ESPN’s Bobby Marks listed Hart’s current salary at $20.9 million for the season.

The New York Post added that Hart, who is eligible for a four‑year, $131.2 million extension, expressed that he is “not really too stressed” about the uncertainty and wants to keep negotiations from “trickling into the season.”

What was said

“As an organization, our entire focus is on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of,” the Knicks spokesperson said, as reported by Bleacher Report.

Josh Hart told the New York Post after practice on Saturday, “Everything is gonna work out, so I’m not really too stressed over it… It’s good to be able to just focus on the season and keep it moving.”

How it came about

The pause follows a series of offseason moves, including the signing of rookie forward Mohamed Diawara to a four‑year, $11.2 million deal earlier in October, as covered by Felo News (Knicks look to Mohamed Diawara for breakout second season). The team also dealt with a ticket‑pricing error that temporarily halted individual ticket sales, highlighting the organization’s focus on off‑court issues ahead of the season (Knicks Pause Ticket Sales After Pricing Error).

Key facts

The Knicks have suspended all contract‑extension negotiations until later in the season. (bleacherreport.com)
Josh Hart is eligible for a four‑year extension worth up to about $132 million. (nypost.com)
Karl‑Anthony Towns is eligible for a four‑year extension worth up to $276 million. (bleacherreport.com)

Where accounts differ

Amount of the offer made to Karl‑Anthony Towns: Knicks offered a four‑year deal worth about $200 million (New York Post report). (bleacherreport.com); Towns is eligible for a four‑year, $276 million deal (ESPN’s Bobby Marks). (bleacherreport.com)