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Karl-Anthony Towns helped deliver New York’s first title in 53 years, but he still has no extension. Owner James Dolan refuses to push the Knicks payroll past the NBA’s second apron. So any offer near the max runs straight into that limit.
On The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said the sides have made no progress on a max extension. Towns qualifies for a max deal worth about $272 million over four years. Windhorst also noted that the Knicks probably would have made that offer by now if they planned to.
What Dolan has said about the second apron
Dolan has said publicly that he wants no part of the second apron, the league’s toughest luxury tax tier. In addition to a bigger tax bill, teams in that tier face tight limits on trades and signings. Windhorst pointed out that the Knicks have hovered near that line for three years without crossing it.
However, Windhorst said paying Towns near his max while staying under the line would break up the title roster.
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Mitchell Robinson’s exit sets a precedent
The Knicks have already lost a piece of their title core to that same limit. Center Mitchell Robinson left for Boston this summer, agreeing to $47.4 million over three years.
Robinson was a key rotation player for the champions. Still, his exit is the clearest sign yet that Dolan’s cap stance has real consequences. In contrast, Towns carries a far bigger price tag. As a result, any deal for him puts that stance under much more pressure.
Why Brunson’s discount matters for Towns
Because Jalen Brunson took a discount on his extension, the front office had room to build the title roster. Towns could follow that script by taking a deal closer to the roughly $60 million he earns now.
Champions across the league feel that same pressure. For example, Boston and Oklahoma City each cut costs after their titles. Those moves suggest that keeping a whole champion roster together is getting harder around the NBA.
The money behind the Towns extension
This season’s second apron line sits at about $222.4 million. Next season, about $220 million could sit on just eight Knicks contracts. That figure assumes a full max for Towns and a future deal for Josh Hart. The front office would still need to fill out the rest of the roster.
Because of that, the Knicks would need a Towns discount or more departures beyond Robinson.
What happens next for Towns
Windhorst said the next move belongs to Towns, who will decide how public to make the process. Meanwhile, Dolan can still change course, especially if the Knicks mount a serious run at a repeat this season.
For now, though, New York must decide if keeping its title group is worth crossing Dolan’s line.
Story credit: CLUTCH POINT
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