Knicks · The Extension Mention....... (page 3)

Knixkik @ 10/7/2026 1:00 PM
KATs relationship with the knicks has been back and forth since he was in the Giannis trade talks, then again during the season when there were issues. Cant totally rule out this spilling into extension talks, and we are back in the same spot with his name mentioned in February trades. We will have to wait and see.
Nalod @ 10/7/2026 1:10 PM
Current CBA shares revenue and not profits. Why? Players put butts in the seats and revenue is fair. If not, you think players will share in the losses? They get paid if hurt. Guaranteed!
They get paid if there talent diminishes. Guraanteed.
So lets not call out owner greed. They are greedy but they also put up the capital to own the team. Not the players.

Should Leon walk if Dolan is back to his old tricks? If they all in agreement and Leon can build a contender this year and in the future then hope he stays. Im with SAS here that KAT should take a discount from full Max. Outside the playoffs was he really worth max money? Foul trouble, bad juju with refs, bitching about something? But, he did reach the peak and Knicks are champs. I don't blame him for wanting his fair salary. Same with Jalen. Thats gonna happen. If so, and Kat is there enought to put a contending team on the floor? Sign KAT, and if the window is closing trade him. Its how he got here from Minny!

All of it interconnected.

Lets not forget Jalen needs to be paid.

martin @ 10/9/2026 9:32 AM
Annoyed by the media mentions

martin @ 10/9/2026 9:32 AM
Nalod @ 10/9/2026 9:34 AM
The more I digest this KAT thing the more I think he will be moved.
Why?
Up until the playoffs was he a 61mm player? If we did not win this thing and he was the whiney foul proned inconsistent player we'd think he was certain to opt into his option and of course hope for the best in year three of the window.

In the playoffs he was magnificent and showed a next level performance. He is a top 5 center in the league. He looks leaner and perhaps quicker now. They are champs.......

Now, lets consider the apron not as Dolan being cheap, but you go over you are locked in to a roster. Like Cleveland is. Like Denver. Get an injury your screwed.

In this era repeating is a low probability. Either teams lose their edge or injury.

IM being very pragmatic here. As a fan I want another chip! Im not rational nor do I care about the money. Its not my money. But, to lock this team means your gonna live or die with it no matter what.

Maybe its not about this season but rebootimg for another run in a way we can't see. We cried when iHart left and Leon brilliantly got an undervalued KAT. Maybe the true brilliance is to trade him now. Not going to get player in return that can fill his role, but perhaps we retool in a way not so obvious. Leon has the cred.

martin @ 10/9/2026 10:08 AM
Nalod wrote:The more I digest this KAT thing the more I think he will be moved.
Why?
Up until the playoffs was he a 61mm player? If we did not win this thing and he was the whiney foul proned inconsistent player we'd think he was certain to opt into his option and of course hope for the best in year three of the window.

In the playoffs he was magnificent and showed a next level performance. He is a top 5 center in the league. He looks leaner and perhaps quicker now. They are champs.......

Now, lets consider the apron not as Dolan being cheap, but you go over you are locked in to a roster. Like Cleveland is. Like Denver. Get an injury your screwed.

In this era repeating is a low probability. Either teams lose their edge or injury.

IM being very pragmatic here. As a fan I want another chip! Im not rational nor do I care about the money. Its not my money. But, to lock this team means your gonna live or die with it no matter what.

Maybe its not about this season but rebootimg for another run in a way we can't see. We cried when iHart left and Leon brilliantly got an undervalued KAT. Maybe the true brilliance is to trade him now. Not going to get player in return that can fill his role, but perhaps we retool in a way not so obvious. Leon has the cred.

I like this and I think you hit it as a whole. And then when you take into consideration the bolded, it may push it over the top.

How about this starting point: Can you manage your salary situation with multiple guys over the $50M mark and still maneuver the team well enough to keep the long term winning? Denver has not been able to. Cleveland has not. GSW has not. OKC and SAS have a little wiggle room but picks and youngins to balance. OKC in particular will have to trade a core starter soon; they will be in nearly the exact salary situation as the Knicks next year.

Jalen is going to get his big payday upgrade and I don't think Dolan will deny that. Jalen is the guy who deserves it.

The difference for KAT at say $65M and KAT at $50M is Shamet, Deuce, GTA, Mo plus not hitting second apron restrictions.

KAT had a glorious playoffs. He was also so bad during regular season compared to his norm that he admitted to looking at housing in Milwaukee. 2 years of below average defense and fouling? Those are realities too. KAT is not an alpha on his team, he had to be pushed into the KAT hub offense? I feel that is correct.

Good food for thought.

SergioNYK @ 10/9/2026 10:42 AM
They'll come to an agreement at some point. I'm not worried at all.
martin @ 10/9/2026 10:43 AM
martin @ 10/9/2026 10:44 AM
This wild part in all of this is this

houston20 @ 10/9/2026 10:54 AM
I like it this way if they perform this year and get another championship then they should get payed. I said this earlier most of NBA doesn’t have cap space. The team most cap space is warriors with 60 million dollars. The historical cheap teams that have cap space are the bulls, hawks, nets, and bucks the teams that don’t want to go over the apron. It’s okay to wait because certain players might not produce as we think they would that means there value goes down.
Panos @ 10/9/2026 10:59 AM
Nalod wrote:The more I digest this KAT thing the more I think he will be moved.
Why?
Up until the playoffs was he a 61mm player? If we did not win this thing and he was the whiney foul proned inconsistent player we'd think he was certain to opt into his option and of course hope for the best in year three of the window.

In the playoffs he was magnificent and showed a next level performance. He is a top 5 center in the league. He looks leaner and perhaps quicker now. They are champs.......

Now, lets consider the apron not as Dolan being cheap, but you go over you are locked in to a roster. Like Cleveland is. Like Denver. Get an injury your screwed.

In this era repeating is a low probability. Either teams lose their edge or injury.

IM being very pragmatic here. As a fan I want another chip! Im not rational nor do I care about the money. Its not my money. But, to lock this team means your gonna live or die with it no matter what.

Maybe its not about this season but rebootimg for another run in a way we can't see. We cried when iHart left and Leon brilliantly got an undervalued KAT. Maybe the true brilliance is to trade him now. Not going to get player in return that can fill his role, but perhaps we retool in a way not so obvious. Leon has the cred.

Nalod!
This may be your best post ever! Thoughtful, insightful, and to the point!!! (and by the way, I agree!)

Nalod @ 10/9/2026 12:28 PM
Panos wrote:
Nalod wrote:The more I digest this KAT thing the more I think he will be moved.
Why?
Up until the playoffs was he a 61mm player? If we did not win this thing and he was the whiney foul proned inconsistent player we'd think he was certain to opt into his option and of course hope for the best in year three of the window.

In the playoffs he was magnificent and showed a next level performance. He is a top 5 center in the league. He looks leaner and perhaps quicker now. They are champs.......

Now, lets consider the apron not as Dolan being cheap, but you go over you are locked in to a roster. Like Cleveland is. Like Denver. Get an injury your screwed.

In this era repeating is a low probability. Either teams lose their edge or injury.

IM being very pragmatic here. As a fan I want another chip! Im not rational nor do I care about the money. Its not my money. But, to lock this team means your gonna live or die with it no matter what.

Maybe its not about this season but rebootimg for another run in a way we can't see. We cried when iHart left and Leon brilliantly got an undervalued KAT. Maybe the true brilliance is to trade him now. Not going to get player in return that can fill his role, but perhaps we retool in a way not so obvious. Leon has the cred.

Nalod!
This may be your best post ever! Thoughtful, insightful, and to the point!!! (and by the way, I agree!)

My goodness it took thousands for posts over 22 years to get here! LOL.......
My crowing achievent but Im most proud of is "TO THE POINT".
LOL>>>>>>>

The Bobby Marks video should be required for knick fans. He brings a good point about opting in and then extended.
I don't know were KAT's head is at after his wonderful run and summer of vindication. Especially to Jimmy Butler who does not have the ring but at 36 a bag of really big contracts over the years. The ego drives a lot of these guys. Marks brings up some great points and not all players age well. I don't want to paint KAT as being to being the one to blame. If he busts a knee he can opt in. If he plays his ass off perhaps we can win back to back, and he can walk.

BlueKnickers @ 10/9/2026 1:06 PM
Nalod wrote:
Panos wrote:
Nalod wrote:The more I digest this KAT thing the more I think he will be moved.
Why?
Up until the playoffs was he a 61mm player? If we did not win this thing and he was the whiney foul proned inconsistent player we'd think he was certain to opt into his option and of course hope for the best in year three of the window.

In the playoffs he was magnificent and showed a next level performance. He is a top 5 center in the league. He looks leaner and perhaps quicker now. They are champs.......

Now, lets consider the apron not as Dolan being cheap, but you go over you are locked in to a roster. Like Cleveland is. Like Denver. Get an injury your screwed.

In this era repeating is a low probability. Either teams lose their edge or injury.

IM being very pragmatic here. As a fan I want another chip! Im not rational nor do I care about the money. Its not my money. But, to lock this team means your gonna live or die with it no matter what.

Maybe its not about this season but rebootimg for another run in a way we can't see. We cried when iHart left and Leon brilliantly got an undervalued KAT. Maybe the true brilliance is to trade him now. Not going to get player in return that can fill his role, but perhaps we retool in a way not so obvious. Leon has the cred.

Nalod!
This may be your best post ever! Thoughtful, insightful, and to the point!!! (and by the way, I agree!)

My goodness it took thousands for posts over 22 years to get here! LOL.......
My crowing achievent but Im most proud of is "TO THE POINT".
LOL>>>>>>>

The Bobby Marks video should be required for knick fans. He brings a good point about opting in and then extended.
I don't know were KAT's head is at after his wonderful run and summer of vindication. Especially to Jimmy Butler who does not have the ring but at 36 a bag of really big contracts over the years. The ego drives a lot of these guys. Marks brings up some great points and not all players age well. I don't want to paint KAT as being to being the one to blame. If he busts a knee he can opt in. If he plays his ass off perhaps we can win back to back, and he can walk.

All of that hard work is finally paying off

foosballnick @ 10/9/2026 1:48 PM
martin wrote:
Nalod wrote:The more I digest this KAT thing the more I think he will be moved.
Why?
Up until the playoffs was he a 61mm player? If we did not win this thing and he was the whiney foul proned inconsistent player we'd think he was certain to opt into his option and of course hope for the best in year three of the window.

In the playoffs he was magnificent and showed a next level performance. He is a top 5 center in the league. He looks leaner and perhaps quicker now. They are champs.......

Now, lets consider the apron not as Dolan being cheap, but you go over you are locked in to a roster. Like Cleveland is. Like Denver. Get an injury your screwed.

In this era repeating is a low probability. Either teams lose their edge or injury.

IM being very pragmatic here. As a fan I want another chip! Im not rational nor do I care about the money. Its not my money. But, to lock this team means your gonna live or die with it no matter what.

Maybe its not about this season but rebootimg for another run in a way we can't see. We cried when iHart left and Leon brilliantly got an undervalued KAT. Maybe the true brilliance is to trade him now. Not going to get player in return that can fill his role, but perhaps we retool in a way not so obvious. Leon has the cred.

I like this and I think you hit it as a whole. And then when you take into consideration the bolded, it may push it over the top.

How about this starting point: Can you manage your salary situation with multiple guys over the $50M mark and still maneuver the team well enough to keep the long term winning? Denver has not been able to. Cleveland has not. GSW has not. OKC and SAS have a little wiggle room but picks and youngins to balance. OKC in particular will have to trade a core starter soon; they will be in nearly the exact salary situation as the Knicks next year.

Jalen is going to get his big payday upgrade and I don't think Dolan will deny that. Jalen is the guy who deserves it.

The difference for KAT at say $65M and KAT at $50M is Shamet, Deuce, GTA, Mo plus not hitting second apron restrictions.

KAT had a glorious playoffs. He was also so bad during regular season compared to his norm that he admitted to looking at housing in Milwaukee. 2 years of below average defense and fouling? Those are realities too. KAT is not an alpha on his team, he had to be pushed into the KAT hub offense? I feel that is correct.

Good food for thought.

Regular season will likely have less meaning now with a chip. For instance we may see the team satisfied with finishing at 4 or 5 while playing the reserves more minutes. Much higher priority on health and availability for the playoffs and having guys who are proven in the playoff crunch.

Finding a replacement for KAT will be more difficult than finding a replacement for Hart or Bridges. While they may move KAT as you never know....I think its more likely they move one of those 2 and/or Deuce.

DLeethal @ 10/9/2026 2:20 PM
Part of me feels like Leon is made brutally hard business decisions, that might be wise ones (not extending both these guys into their mid 30s at huge deals). Basically learning from teams that age on a steady downward slope and remove themselves from the equation as a result. We've seen it countless times.

The other part of me feels Dolan is just bringing the ick back to Knicks management and crushing the vibes all around with his handling of everything regarding the aprons since the day of the parade til now.

ramtour420 @ 10/9/2026 5:11 PM
There is probably no way to replace Brunson and or KAT. Those players are unique. Well nearly. Who are you replacing Towns with? Joker?What about Brunson? Not sure if there even is a player in the league that comes close to what he brings. The word clutch has his picture in the dictionary. Without Towns we don't win another chip. Not with this recipe. Not sure if any other recipe works , either. If we don't resign Towns we might as well trade everyone for picks and do a 5 year rebuild. I want to try the keep the core( Towns, Brunson, OG, Bridges, Hart) and stay a contender but I am not sure if it's possible unless those guys don't take the max. Prolly not. I have no interest in just being competitive.

Their extensions will make the difference between being a contender and being just competitive. This point should be stressed to everyone and if someone doesn't want to be a part of the team that's a contender ( and take a discount in the process) ,then they can go kick rocks.

Whoever negotiated the last Player Agreement should be to blame. Not the front office ( Dolan included) and not the players.

martin @ 10/10/2026 12:32 PM
How about this take with KAT.

He is a uniquely not easily replaceable player. There are not too many centers who can distance shoot, put ball on floor, and pass. You add in the rebounding. You add in the defense that he absolutely finally decided to play during the playoffs, not sure where the effort was during the regular season.

KAT will be 31 in November. Below is playoff minutes played. KAT took himself out of a lot of games with the fouling, refs did too to be fair. Jalen was on the court for like 100+ more minutes. That's like 3 games of minutes. OG missed 2 games and was on the floor more in total.

Should the Knicks also look through this lens?

                                     
Rk               Player Age  G GS  MP
1         Jalen Brunson  29 19 19 702
2             Josh Hart  30 19 19 614
3         Mikal Bridges  29 19 19 608
4            OG Anunoby  28 17 17 586
5    Karl-Anthony Towns  30 19 19 578
6         Miles McBride  25 19  2 334
7         Landry Shamet  28 19  0 310
8     Mitchell Robinson  27 18  0 251
9       Jordan Clarkson  33 18  0 195
10        Jose Alvarado  27 18  0 170
11       Ariel Hukporti  23 10  0  76

It absolutely helps to have a distance shooting starting C. It's not necessary, OKC shows us how they continue to dominate with iHart.

BigRedDog @ 10/10/2026 2:36 PM
Nalod wrote:The more I digest this KAT thing the more I think he will be moved.
Why?
Up until the playoffs was he a 61mm player? If we did not win this thing and he was the whiney foul proned inconsistent player we'd think he was certain to opt into his option and of course hope for the best in year three of the window.

In the playoffs he was magnificent and showed a next level performance. He is a top 5 center in the league. He looks leaner and perhaps quicker now. They are champs.......

Now, lets consider the apron not as Dolan being cheap, but you go over you are locked in to a roster. Like Cleveland is. Like Denver. Get an injury your screwed.

In this era repeating is a low probability. Either teams lose their edge or injury.

IM being very pragmatic here. As a fan I want another chip! Im not rational nor do I care about the money. Its not my money. But, to lock this team means your gonna live or die with it no matter what.

Maybe its not about this season but rebootimg for another run in a way we can't see. We cried when iHart left and Leon brilliantly got an undervalued KAT. Maybe the true brilliance is to trade him now. Not going to get player in return that can fill his role, but perhaps we retool in a way not so obvious. Leon has the cred.

Who reboots a championship team , especially when they aren't an old over the hill team? Pretty much everyone is in their prime right now. Sorry I can't disagree more.

Nalod @ 10/10/2026 2:43 PM
You don't replace Towns, you make a bigger trade and restructure.
Its way outside the box for anyone to see today.
Leon has an asset, you don't over pay it.

In one world Duren got 200 mil and Kat thinking he should take less is stupid. He got his vindication thing and wants his respect.
Leon letting him chill. Maybe he come down to earth and grasp what life was like before last spring. Now, He can opt out and go be free. Maybe we give him deadline or trade him to a team that will pay him. Low trade value or admit the window closes with his departure.

Or. he opts in and then takes 4 more years after at say 180mm mil over 4 years, thats 240mm guaranteed and he stays a knick at least for a while. The window stays open 2-3 years. After that, his talent might be less but the contact becomes more reasonable as a trade asset.

BigDaddyG @ 10/10/2026 3:26 PM
martin wrote:This wild part in all of this is this

The way of the Sith, uh, I mean CAA.

BlueKnickers @ 10/10/2026 3:27 PM
Rose always keeps his pots simmering on the stove longer than anyone else

It is part of the reason why he was able to succeed at this

He waited patiently until Minny was in a bind and he got KAT for freaking Julius Randle (and Devo).

He held on until TO had to decide on whether to give OG big money and he got him for RJ and Quickley.

Both times he got one superior player for two lesser players.

Now that he has a stack of superior players, he has to play it just right to not put himself into the same position as the teams he poached OG and KAT from.

And, no, I don't think the imperative to stay under the 2nd Apron is strictly a Dolan edict.

Read the tea leaves. Dolan may want to keep those costs down as well, but he is also running cover for Rose and taking any heat for this.

Rose is not going to box himself in and lose all flexibility for multiple years. That's not how he operates.

So, yes, he'll put KAT and Hart on ice and if they don't like it that's their problem. Rose is going to wait as long as he needs to.

One of the reasons the players will tolerate waiting longer is they already have the confidence that the FO knows how to assemble a winning team. Therefore, they know whatever they get offered will likely be the maximum the FO feels they can give while maintaining some future flexibility.

IOW, it's not just about money, it's strategic, and even if they don't get every penny they want, they still have to respect Rose and his staff for their approach to contracts.

Just be thankful Rose doesn't have to deal with a myopic money-first player like Melo. I think both KAT and Hart will at the very least consider taking less to keep the starting unit intact.

And part of waiting is seeing how the new season unfolds and who is stepping up, who is exceeding or disappointing expections, because long-term planning means more than your starting unit, it's the whole team.

If a player breaks out, that changes the equation. How a player like Diawara progresses matters. A player like that who starts to project as a future starter can change plans that stretch several years ahead. If he flops this season, that changes projections too.

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