Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks
Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks

The Knicks Will Extend Towns... But Here’s the Catch

September 25, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

"Carlton Towns is irreplaceable for the Knicks." That is the central argument XJ makes in this solo episode of Locked On Knicks, and he spends the episode explaining why the team will ultimately extend him—but not without a tense negotiation that reveals the real pressure point in New York's championship window.

Extension talks between the Knicks and Towns have stalled, according to reporting from Brian Windhorst. But XJ is clear that this is not a sign of a broken relationship. Both sides want the deal done. The Knicks want Towns to take a significant discount off his maximum extension, which would be roughly four years, $276 million. The team is pushing for a starting salary in the $45–50 million range, roughly $10–15 million less than what Towns could make. Towns holds a $61 million player option for the 2027-28 season, giving him leverage, but it does not provide long-term security, and at 31 years old, this is likely his last chance at a major payday.

The Salary Cap Puzzle: Why the Knicks Need a Discount

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:04) **Contract Talks Have Stalled, But Towns Isn't Going Anywhere** - Host XJ sets the thesis: the stalled extension talks are not a crisis, and Karl-Anthony Towns will remain a Knick.
  • 2 (06:20) **Why the Knicks Want Towns to Take a Discount** - The specific reason is to stay under the second apron and retain the entire championship core.
  • 3 (08:06) **Towns Is Part of the Irreplaceable Core** - Host identifies Towns, Jalen Brunson, and OG Anunoby as the three truly irreplaceable players on the roster.
  • 4 (10:35) **Towns' Game Will Age Well** - His skill set, built on shooting, means he will remain valuable deep into his 30s.
  • 5 (13:31) **Leverage and the Risk of Losing Towns** - Other teams, like the Charlotte Hornets, would offer Towns the max, giving him real bargaining power.
  • 6 (14:17) **The Deuce McBride Factor** - The Knicks are likely angling to use the savings from Towns' discount to re-sign Deuce McBride at around $15M per year.
  • 7 (17:11) **Why Towns Won't Take a Huge Pay Cut** - The sacrifice is far larger than just the first-year difference due to 8% annual raises.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

The New York Knicks face a critical crossroads as Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract talks stall, raising big questions about their championship window. Will Towns accept a discount to keep the core together, or will salary cap tensions force tough roster choices? XJ unpacks the strategy behind the Knicks’ push for Towns to take less than his max, targeting flexibility for players like Deuce McBride and Josh Hart while managing the looming threat of the second apron.

XJ discusses why Towns’ unique offensive skill set is irreplaceable, how Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby factor into New York’s elite playoff hopes, and what it means for fan favorites on the roster if management prioritizes luxury tax savings over continuity. Can the Knicks keep their contender status while balancing player contracts and ownership’s spending limits?


00:00 – The Knicks WILL extend KAT (just not yet)
01:24 – Congrats to Gavin! (drop a comment!)
02:37 – The Towns contract situation explained simply
10:54 – Cozy Earth Ad Break
12:06 – Why the Knicks want Towns to take less
21:06– Wayfair Ad Break
22:19 – FanDuel Ad Break
23:25 –Third segmenters, stand up!!
24:31 – Why Towns is irreplaceable & who might be the odd man out
33:46 – Thanks and please subscribe!

 

Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski - Imagn Images

 

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Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks

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