Knicks Pause Contract Talks with KAT, Josh Hart, Deuce McBride to Focus on Prep for NBA Season

The New York Knicks announced Friday that they are pausing all contract negotiations as they prepare for the start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season.

In a statement provided to ESPN's Shams Charania , the Knicks 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. 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."

Per ESPN's Bobby Marks , the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek are all extension eligible, and the Knicks have until June 30 to get deals done with them.

The Knicks are coming off their first championship-winning season since 1973, as they ran roughshod over the playoffs, going 16-3 during the postseason.

Towns and Hart were especially big contributors to the title with KAT averaging 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game during the playoffs to go along with Hart's 10.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest.

McBride and Kolek weren't used quite as heavily come playoff time, but McBride averaged a career-high 12.0 points per game as a key bench player during the 2025-26 regular season, while Kolek also set career highs with 4.4 points and 2.7 assists per game.

The 30-year-old Towns is the biggest name on the Knicks roster who could become a free agent next offseason, provided he declines his player option.

Originally selected first overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2015 NBA draft, Towns is a six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection who has averaged 22.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game over his two seasons in New York.

Fred Katz of The Athletic reported last week that the Knicks want to pay Towns "much less" than the four-year, $276 million extension he is eligible to sign.

Last week on NBA Today , ESPN's Malika Andrews reported that although Towns is "willing to take a pay cut," he believes the Knicks' current offer is "unreasonable."

According to Charania , the Knicks' most recent offer to Towns was worth about $200 million over four years.

There is a team option in Hart's contract for the 2027-28 campaign, so there may not be as much of a sense of urgency to extend him as Towns.

Still, Hart is a hugely important player for the Knicks, as he contributes a little bit of everything as the Swiss army knife of the starting lineup.

The 31-year-old veteran averaged 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game last season, providing support to the likes of Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.

One can only assume the Knicks may want to revisit things at some point, especially when it comes to Towns, but for now they are focused on getting ready for the regular-season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 20.