2026-27 Knicks Preview

When I started this blog back in 2012, it was always my wish that one day I would write a preview for a team of mine that had won a title. I came close twice: the 2014 Rangers lost to the L.A. Kings in the Stanley Cup finals, and the 2015 Mets lost to the Kansas City Royals in the World Series. That's it. two close shaves in 14 years. 

Well my wish has finally come true. For the first time since 1973-74, the New York Knicks begin the season as the reigning NBA champions, and I will be writing their 2026-27 preview.

A part of me still can't believe it happened, but happen it did. The patience and devotion of this fanbase was finally rewarded, and over a million of them poured into the Canyon of Heroes to show their appreciation, and to celebrate a moment most of them thought they'd never live to see.

As for the players, far from being a burden, the expectations that were put on them last year helped propel them to one of the most impressive playoff runs in modern history. The Knicks went 16-3 in the postseason; only the 2017 Golden State Warriors (16-1) and the 2001 L.A. Lakers (15-1) were more dominant. In the end, the team most prognosticators thought would never make it out of their own conference, had the last laugh. 

But as the Monkees once sang, "That was then, this is now." In the NBA, the only thing harder than winning a championship is repeating. The 2018 Warriors were the last team to win back-to-back titles. Since then, the Toronto Raptors, L.A. Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Knicks have all hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Will the Knicks break the curse or will they follow in the footsteps of the previous seven winners? 

I wrote last year that I was bullish on the 2025-26 Knicks. Well, guess what? I'm just as bullish on the 2026-27 Knicks. And not just because I'm a fan, but because, despite losing Mitchell Robinson in the offseason, New York has the best starting five and the deepest bench in the league, and that's with most of the Eastern Conference getting better. 

Leon Rose re-signed Mohammed Diawara, Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado to multi-year contracts, brought back Jordan Clarkson on a one-year deal and signed Andre Drummond to replace Robinson. While Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Miles (Deuce) McBride are extension eligible, all but McBride have options past this season. 

I expect Mike Brown to run more of the offense through Towns this season. It worked very well in the playoffs last year; there's no reason it shouldn't work well this year. And while the Knicks have never been a load-management team, I would expect Brown to give some of his starters, such as Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, an occasionally day off to keep them fresh for the playoffs. Barring a trade, which I don't anticipate, there should be no issues with this group.

So what could prevent the Knicks from repeating? Three things.

Tougher competition: As I mentioned above, several teams in the East made significant improvements to their rosters. Chief among them were the Philadelphia 76ers, who acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics for Paul George, and then signed LeBron James to a two-year deal. The Raptors reacquired Kawhi Leonard, who was integral in their championship run in 2019. The Detroit Pistons lost some of their toughness in Isaiah Stewart but gained some offensive skill in John Collins. But the biggest threat comes from a familiar foe. The Indiana Pacers were devastated by injuries last season and failed to make the playoffs. They are healthy going into this season and would love nothing better than to knock off the champs.

Injuries: Let's be honest, the Knicks have been very fortunate over the last two seasons that they didn't suffer any major injuries. Given Anunoby's history, that's no small feat. There's also Josh Hart's dislocated right ring finger that he played through last season and will have to deal with for the rest of his career. A major injury, especially to the starters, could derail any hopes of a repeat. 

Distractions: It goes without saying that the ongoing impasse between Rose and Towns over a contract extension dominated the headlines over the summer and into the fall. The hope was that both sides would reach an agreement before the start of the season. That now appears doubtful. The question is will this become a distraction? We know that KAT can be very emotional at times, and based on his comments over the last couple of weeks, he doesn't appear to be taking the lack of progress well.

If I had to pick just one, it would be the injury concern. Even with the East getting better, the Knicks are still, overall, the best team in the conference. I also don't think the contract situation will prove to be a big deal. These players are professionals, and there's more than enough leadership in that locker room to overcome any potential distractions.

As for where the Knicks will finish, last year, I picked them to finish first in the East; this year, I'm picking them again to finish first. Last season, there was a new coach and a new system. This season, there's no such transition period. I expect this team to get off to a good start and be more consistent. Yes, everyone will be gunning for them, but that's to be expected. The over / under for the Knicks win total this season is 52.5. I'm picking the over.

Below are my predictions for where the top 10 teams in each conference will finish. One caveat: I'm picking the Sixers to finish second in the East, but that is dependent on whether Joel Embiid can stay relatively healthy. If he can't, I can see them falling to fourth or even fifth. Also, the top five teams in the East are likely to be separated by five games.

Eastern Conference:

Knicks
Sixers

Celtics

Raptors

Pistons
Pacers

Cavaliers

Heat

Hawks

Magic

Western Conference:

Thunder

Timberwolves

Spurs

Nuggets

Rockets

Lakers

Warriors

Mavericks

Trail Blazers

Grizzlies

Eastern Conference Finals:

Knicks over Celtics 4-2

Western Conference Finals:

Timberwolves over Thunder 4-3

NBA Finals:

Knicks over Timberwolves 4-3

 

Don't Blow It Up, Drury.

So far, Chris Drury's retool has been an unqualified success. The New York Rangers are 6-2 and in second place in the Metropolitan division, one point behind the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. His offseason moves, in which one third of the roster was turned over, have transformed a team that was one of the worst in the NHL last season to one of the best this season. 

Even without their star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who sustained a season-ending injury in Washington a few days ago, the Blueshirts continue to hum along. They beat the Vancouver Canucks 6-2 and the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 with Dylan Garand in net. The latter was impressive in that it was the second time in as many tries that they beat the Bolts. 

But while the skies over Madison Square Garden may be blue for the moment, we know from past experience that Drury is capable of screwing up a sunset. Remember the trade deadline of 2023 when he acquired Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane, and in the process ruined the chemistry in the locker room? The Rangers lost to the Devils in the first round that year and Gerard Gallant was fired.

Well now, according to a piece by Mollie Walker of The New York Post, Drury is thinking about placing Shesterkin on SELTIR; currently he's on LTIR. What's the difference? Under the current CBA, a team with a player on LTIR can receive up to a maximum of $3.97 million in cap relief. But if that player is placed on SELTIR (season-ending long term injured reserve), a team can recoup his entire salary against its cap. For the Rangers, that means all $11.6 million of Igor's salary comes off the books. Imagine what Drury could do with an extra $11.6 million in the kitty.

Unfortunately we can. That's the problem. Because after missing the playoffs two years in a row, Drury is fighting to save his job. A third consecutive year without a postseason appearance and they'll be someone else in his office. You can count on it.

Desperation can drive a man to do foolish things, and if what Walker is reporting is even remotely true, it would be the most foolish thing Drury has ever done in his five years as GM and President. According to Walker, Drury is considering using most, if not all, of Shesterkin's cap relief to land a big fish. Some of the names being bandied about are Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin and - you need to sit down for this one - Connor McDavid. I'll go through each one in order.

Hellebuyck is signed through 2031 with an AAV of $8.5 million. He is currently under suspension by the Winnipeg Jets for refusing to report to training camp after requesting a trade. Frankly, I don't blame him. If I had to play in Winnipeg, I'd probably sit out too. He's an elite goaltender, no doubt, but why on Earth would the Rangers carry two goalies with a combined $20.1 million in annual salary? This literally makes no sense.

Larkin is a solid two-way center who has a manageable $8.7 million cap hit. But even if Drury could convince Detroit to give him up for a first rounder and a prospect, what happens next year when Shesterkin is healthy and that $11.6 million is back on the books? As it is, the Rangers have two prominent RFAs of their own who will need extensions. And they won't be cheap. Will Cuylle could well cost between $7 and $8 million per year to re-sign; and God knows what Gabe Perrault's next contract will look like. Even with the cap going up next season, the Rangers will be hard pressed to get to the league minimum of 22 players.

But now we come to the ultimate fools gold. To be clear, no one is questioning McDavid's bonafides. They're well established and earned. He would instantly become the Rangers best player should Drury be able to pry him away from Edmonton. But does anybody seriously think that the Oilers are just going to give him away for nothing, especially when they have him signed to a very team-friendly $12.5 million AAV contract for another year? Figure Alexis Lafreniere, Perrault and Liam Greentree, plus two first rounders, is what the return package might look like. And that's assuming Stan Bowman doesn't hang up on Drury.

This is how GMs lose their jobs. This is how fans get their hearts broken. 

For the first time since 2023-24, the Rangers look like they might go somewhere this season. They have the youngest roster in the NHL and are playing inspiring hockey. It's actually a joy to watch them. Garand has done a magnificent job taking over for Shesterkin; the defensive pairings are the best they've been in over a decade; Lafreniere is finally delivering on his promise; and Perrault is showing everyone that passed on him in the '23 Draft that they made a terrible mistake.

After five years of farting around, Drury finally got the memo and made the changes that were necessary. The last thing he should be contemplating is blowing it up just so he can replicate what Steve Cohen did to the Mets two years ago when he signed Juan Soto to a $765 million contract. Cohen wanted a trophy he could hang over his mantle. He got it and the Mets missed the playoffs the last two seasons as a result. Even in a sport as individualistic as baseball, you still need depth throughout your lineup to win a championship.

My point is, let this team cook. If the Rangers are in contention for a playoff spot at the deadline, they can always add a player or two; preferably a center in the bottom six who can actually put the puck in the net. As of now, they don't have one.

It's said that the worst time to go grocery shopping is on an empty stomach. For the sake of this franchise and its fans let's hope Drury gets three squares a day.

Giants Fit To Be Tied

Coming into their game against the Washington Commanders yesterday, the New York Giants had played four games: Two good, one bad and one ugly. Well now you now can add bizarre to that list. Because bizarre is the only description that fits this game.

It was a tale of two halves. In the first half, the Giants managed only 82 yards of total offense; Jameis Winston was 7/16 for 72 yards; and Dominic Zvada missed a 50 and 57 yard field goal attempt. New York trailed 12-3 at halftime.

Then in the second half, the Giants got their second wind. They put up 239 yards of total offense to the Commanders 173. Winston threw for 3 touchdowns, including the game-tying one to Malik Nabers with 1:43 left in regulation, and New York outscored Washington 24-15 to force overtime. 

In the OT, the Commanders won the coin toss and elected to have the Giants receive. The Jints took the ball down to the Washington 28, where Zvada missed a 46-yard field goal attempt; his third miss of the game. The Commanders then took over at their own 36, but managed only 13 yards before having to punt the ball back to the Giants.

With a new lease on life, the Giants again marched down the field with a mix of passing and rushing. They had the ball at the Washington 24 with 2 minutes left in OT. A field goal would've won the game. But after watching Zvada miss three field-goal attempts, Matt Naggy, wanted to pick up a few extra yards to help his kicker. He called a run play for Cam Skattebo. The last two plays, Skattebo picked up 14 yards. The Giants were hoping he'd pick up at least five. 

Unfortunately, he did the one thing you can't do in that situation; he fumbled the ball and the Commanders recovered it at their own 23. With 155 left, Washington now had a golden opportunity to win the game. And win it they almost did.

I say almost, because this is where things got truly bizarre. Jayden Daniels, who ran for two touchdowns on the day, completed passes to Terry McLaurin (16 yards) and Antonio Williams (6 yards) to get to his own 45. Daniels then scrambled down the right sideline for 16 yards and completed a pass to Treylon Burks for 13 yards down the left sideline and out of bounds to the New York 26 with 55 seconds left. The Commanders then ran the ball off right tackle, I suppose, to put the ball at the right hashmark for their kicker.

There were 50 seconds left, with the clock running and the Commanders out of timeouts. All they had to do was spike the ball and kick the winning field goal. Instead, for some reason only they know, they elected to run another play. Daniels let the clock run down to 12 seconds before taking the snap. He dropped back like he was going to pass, then decided to run. By the time he was tackled there were only 8 seconds left, not nearly enough time for his players to get back to the line of scrimmage and for him to spike the football. Time had run out and, as improbable as it was,  the game ended in a 27-27 tie. 

Like I said, bizarre. 

On the one hand, the Giants were disappointed they didn't win; on the other hand, they were fortunate they didn't lose. It's not every week that a team commits that kind of malpractice. The last time something like this happened in a game that featured the Giants was on opening week of the 2022 season in Dallas. The Cowboys, like the Commanders, could't get back to the line of scrimmage in time to spike the ball and get their field-goal unit on before the clock ran out. It's also the first time since that same 2022 season that the Giants played to a tie, ironically against the Commanders at MetLife.

But while the Giants didn't win, they still had some incredible performances from some of their players. Winston continued his metamorphosis from the player everyone sweared at to the player everyone swears by. Overall, he was 33/54 for 326 yards with 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and a QBR of 77.2. In his last two games, he's thrown for 576 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. If this is what the Giants envisioned when they signed him to an extension, mission accomplished. If nothing else, he's put to bed all the talk of J.J. McCarthy taking over the reigns. For the time being, this is his team. 

Nabers and Isaiah Likely were also exceptional. On a day when the running game couldn't get going, they combined for 22 receptions, 215 yards and 3 touchdowns. For the Giants to continue to succeed, they will need both of them to contribute.

And despite giving up some explosive plays, the defense played quite well. Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese each had nine tackles and a sack. Abdul Carter and Dru Phillips had five tackles a piece and combined for 3 sacks. As a unit, the Giants defense had a 2.14 average time to pressure against the Commanders; the fastest time for any team in a game this season. Over the last two games, Dennard Wilson really has this defense clicking.

All things being equal, I'd much rather be a Giants fan today than a Commanders fan. The Giants are in first place in the NFC East; the Commanders are in dead last. Neither team deserved to win and both probably deserved to lose. In a sense, it was a fitting end to the most bizarre game played in years.

Sometimes the football gods smile on you, sometimes they frown on you, and sometimes they just shrug their shoulders. 

Leon Lays Down the Law

There's one rule that supersedes all others when it comes to sales: you never negotiate against yourself. Case in point: a customer walks into a store to buy something but thinks the price is too high - What else is new? 

I'm going to lay out two scenarios for you.

Scenario one:

Customer: "What can you do for me on that price?"

Salesman: "I can save you twenty bucks."

Customer: "Still too much."

Salesman: "How about forty?"

Customer: "Sorry, still too much."

Salesman: "Well, how about sixty? That's a pretty good discount."

Customer: "Can I speak to your manager? Maybe he can give me a better price."

Scenario two:

Customer: "What can you do for me on that price?"

Salesman: "What do you mean? That's a great price."

Customer: "Too high."

Salesman: "Well, what are you looking to spend?"

Customer: "Less than what you're charging."

Salesman: "And that is?"

Customer: "Not sayin'."

Salesman: "Did you see it for less somewhere else? I'll match any legitimate price."

Customer: "No, I just know I can get it for cheaper."

Salesman: "Well, I really can't do anything on the price without knowing what you're willing to spend."

Now you may be thinking, what the fuck does this have to do with the negotiations between the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns? Everything.

That first scenario is basically a salesman negotiating against himself. Without any proof that the item was in fact cheaper elsewhere, he lowered the price, not once, not twice, but three times. And he still didn't get the sale. All that work, and in the end, his manager had to get involved to clean up the mess.

In the second scenario, we see a salesman who knows he made a fair offer, but is still willing to negotiate the price if the customer gives him proof that it's cheaper elsewhere. When the customer doesn't comply, the salesman ends the negotiation by putting the onus back on the customer where it belongs. 

Guess which salesman Leon Rose is? Granted, in this case Towns is not looking for a discount but rather an increase over the offer he received from Rose. But other than that, it's pretty much the same thing.

Towns is eligible for a max deal of $276 million; the Knicks offered him $185 million. They then up'd that offer to $200 million. The reason we know that is because the agency representing Towns leaked both offers. How do we know they leaked them? Because the one thing the Knicks and Rangers both have in common is that neither franchise airs its linen in public. If you know anything about James Dolan, he treats public statements from his employees the same way the Pentagon treats classified leaks. It's frowned upon. Indeed, the only time we ever see Rose and Chris Drury make public statements is when someone is hired or fired. Other than that, you never hear a peep out of them.

We also know that the leaks were from Towns' agent because we still don't know what they're looking for. All we keep hearing is that KAT is willing to take a discount from the $276 million he's eligible for, but like that customer in scenario one, we don't know how much of a discount.

And therein lies the problem. Ten days from the start of the regular season, Rose found himself at an impasse. His initial offer was rejected; he increased it and it was still rejected. How much higher does he have to go to get a yes? Ten million? Twenty million? You see the dilemma, right?

Only a lousy salesman would continue to negotiate against himself. And Rose is hardly a lousy salesman. Prior to becoming President of the Knicks, he was co-partner at CAA Sports, the very agency currently representing Towns. Indeed, Rose once repped Towns, along with other notable players like LeBron James. And Jessica Holtz, Towns' current agent, once worked for Rose. You think he doesn't know how this game is played? There isn't an I he hasn't dotted or a T he hasn't crossed in his career.  As I wrote in an earlier piece, he's forgotten more than most GMs - or agents for that matter - know. 

That's why I'm not that concerned that the Knicks have decided to "table" all contract extension talks until later in the season. That's Rose's way of letting Holtz know that he's not playing her game. If she isn't willing to let him know what number Towns is looking for, he's not going to guess what it might be. The offer is $200 million. Take it or leave it.

Holtz knows all this. She's not stupid. She's up against her former boss; the man who taught her everything she knows; the man who, despite what the numb nuts on social media keep saying, knows full well what he's doing. She no more wants to see Towns leave the Knicks than Rose does. Playing poker with a man who owns the deck is not a winning strategy. In fact, it can backfire badly.

That's why I still think this gets resolved by October 19, and for a number around $228 million. That comes out to $57 million per season; the exact salary Towns is making this season. And if it doesn't get resolved by then; if it ends up dragging into next summer and Towns insists on becoming the highest paid player in the NBA - Steph Curry currently holds that distinction at $62.5 million - then he can go play for the Brooklyn Nets next season. I'm sure Julius Randle would love that.

Wouldn't that be a hoot? The two players who were traded for one another landing on the same team.

Since the second apron was fully implemented by the NBA in the summer of 2024, only five teams have gone over it: the Boston Celtics (2024-25); the Cleveland Cavaliers (2025-26); the Denver Nuggets (2026-27); the Minnesota Timberwolves (2025-26); and the Phoenix Suns (2024-25 & 2025-26). Of those teams, only the Celtics have a championship to show for it. They subsequently unloaded several key players from their core. They are now $22.9 million under the second apron.

Leon Rose is trying to thread a needle. He would like nothing more than to keep his core together for another three years, but in order to do that - and still stay under the second apron - he has to stick to his budget. Karl-Anthony Towns wants to get paid what he thinks he's worth. There's nothing wrong with that. But if paying him what he wants means Rose would have to trade a Mikal Bridges, that doesn't make any sense. KAT may not want to hear that, but it doesn't make it any less true. 

The fact is the Knicks won the title last season because they had the best five-man starting rotation in the league. The only way they will win another is by keeping it intact.

Either they win together or they lose apart. It's that simple.

Rangers Turning Heads, Instead of Stomachs

It's early, I know, but there's something different about this New York Rangers team; something we haven't seen in quite some time. And no, it's not the 4-1 record. The Rangers have gotten off to good starts before. Two years ago, they got off to a 7-2-1 start. We all know what happened that season. 

No, the thing that's different about this Rangers team is HOW they're winning. After an opening night dud in Boston against the Bruins, in which they looked very much like last season's team, the Blueshirts have won four consecutive games, three in impressive fashion. They have yet to allow a goal in the first period.

The turnaround has been noticeable. While the Rangers rank 15th in the NHL in Corsi 5v5 shot attempts - no surprise given their history - they are second in team save percentage (.940) and first in team goals against average (1.60). They have the first and fourth best defensive pairings (Marcus Pettersson - Sean Dursi) and (Vladislav Gavrikov - Adam Fox); and the 6th and 7th best forward lines (Gabe Perrault - Mika Zibanejad - Alexis Lafreniere) and (Pavel Dorofeyev - J.T. Miller - Oliver Bjorkstrand).

As much as it pains me to admit it: Chris Drury did a much better job during the offseason than I gave him credit for. The acquisitions of Dorofeyev, Pettersson, Dursi and Bjorkstrand, along with Eeli Tolvanen and Alberts Smits (via the draft) have paid off handsomely. This team looks nothing like the bottom-feeder that was routinely booed off the ice by its fans last season. It's a much more cohesive unit. The forwards finish their checks; the defensemen rarely get caught pinching; the neutral zone coverage has been, for lack of a better term, exceptional; the penalty killers are aggressive in their checking; both power play units are getting good chances to score; and most importantly, they aren't relying on Igor Shesterkin to bail them out. While Shesterkin has been brilliant, he hasn't needed to be Super Man the way the team needed him to be in past seasons.

Case in point, Tuesday night's 5-2 win over the Islanders. Going into the third period, New York led 3-2. Normally, the Rangers would've gone into a shell and Igor would've been subjected to a barrage of shots. This time, however, the Blueshirts hunkered down. They limited the Isles to a measly 5 shots on goal the entire period. With 1:41 remaining in regulation, Zibanejad forced a neutral-zone turnover by Matthew Schaefer. Miller picked up the loose puck, skated into the Islanders zone and fed Lafreniere for the one timer into the empty net. Last season, Schaefer would've been allowed to skate into the Rangers zone to set up what would've been multiple scoring chances.

Lafreniere was clearly the best player on the ice for either team. He had a hat trick and assisted on Bjorkstrand's opening goal. I said going into the season that for the Rangers to be successful, Lafreniere was going to have to "deliver on his promise." And while I realize that two of his goals were empty netters, that doesn't detract from his level of play. Perrault is another player who has stood out so far. He has 2 goals and 2 assists this season. He's looked impressive on the first line with Zibanaejad and Lafreniere. 

The defensive pairings have, for the most part, been solid, and have given this team something it hasn't had in a long time: stability. The Rangers can finally get out of their own zone without being hemmed in for long stretches. Not only that, but because they've been so successful at controlling the puck along the boards, the Rangers are better able to gain the offensive zone and set up their forecheck.

If there is one area of concern, it's the lack of goal scoring from the bottom six. So far, only Tolvanen has lit the lamp, though to be fair, Will Cuylle and Tye Kartye have three and two assists respectively. Mike Sullivan has to find a way to get production from these two lines for the Rangers to continue to do well. With the injury to Joe Veleno, that's going to be a bit harder. 

The power play could use some work, too. Though it's generating chances, as I mentioned above, it isn't converting the way it needs to. It's currently 11th in the league; last season, it finished 4th. The penalty kill has been marginally better. It's currently 8th; last season, it was 13th. If Sullivan can get both into the top 5, this will be a very formidable team.

Like I said, it's still early. While there's a lot to like here, past Rangers teams have gotten off to good starts before, only to peter out as the season wore on. That 2024-25 team I mentioned above that got off to a 7-2-1 start, eventually finished 39-26-7.

Bottom line, if you're a Rangers fan, you're cautiously optimistic. But you also know you've seen this movie before. It never seems to end well.

Making Sense of the KAT, Hart Negotiations

With the start of the 2026-27 NBA season just two weeks away, the big story swirling around Madison Square Garden isn't whether the Knicks will repeat as champions, but whether they will be able to re-sign Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart to extensions. Both players, it should be pointed out, are currently under contract this season. To hear some people put it, the sky is falling.

At the risk of throwing cold water on the hypochondriacs out there, some of whom should know better, this is much ado about nothing. Don't get me wrong: Towns and Hart are essential to this team, and the Knicks should make every effort to re-sign both, if possible. No doubt Towns was not thrilled with the initial offer he received from Leon Rose. You gotta admit, $180 million over four years is pretty low. But as someone who spent a quarter century in sales, you never start out a negotiation with your best offer. Typically, both sides have their preferred number and eventually will meet somewhere in the middle. Remember, we don't know what Towns is looking for; all we know is that after this season, he has a $61 million player option. He can either opt in or opt out. It's his choice.

Here's what we know so far:

The Knicks have no intention of going over the second apron, and at the risk of repeating myself, it has nothing to do with the money. To sum up what I wrote back in June, there are profound consequences for teams that go over the second apron; consequences that Rose wants no part of. So if you still think that this is about James Dolan being stingy, don't. The fact is if Dolan went into Rose's office tomorrow and gave him permission to go $20 million over the second apron, Rose would still refuse. The man built a championship roster, for God's sake. He has forgotten more than most GMs will ever know about contract negotiations. Why on Earth would he paint himself into a corner?

KAT is eligible for a four-year max extension of $276 million, which comes out to $69 million per season. Hart is eligible for a four-year max extension of $132 million, which comes out to $33 million per season. The chances of either of them getting that max deal from the Knicks is nil.

As I mentioned above, both players are under contract this season. KAT has a player option for 2027-28; the Knicks hold a team option on Hart for the same season. So you can forget about either one of them getting traded during the season. Barring something extraordinary, the Knicks will defend their title with the same starting lineup and bench, sans Mitchell Robinson, that they had last season.

But this is where things get tricky. It isn't whether Towns and Hart re-sign, but when and for how much. In the case of Towns, Fred Katz wrote an excellent piece in The Athletic about this which is required reading. To sum up, the best-case scenario for the Knicks would be for a deal to get done by October 19, the day before the start of the season. That would allow Towns to opt in to his $61 million player option while simultaneously allowing the Knicks to structure the remaining three years at a lower AAV.

Why is that important? Because the real problem for the Knicks isn't the next two seasons, it's what comes next. You see that's when Jalen Brunson will be eligible for an extension. In a nutshell, he's looking at a max contract of somewhere between $290 to $323 million, or $72.5 to $80.75 million per season. If you think he's leaving money on the table like he did the last time, you're on crack. If ever there was a player who's earned the right to get paid what he's worth, it's Captain Clutch. The issue isn't whether he'll get paid, but whether Rose will have enough money left over to construct a roster around him. 

And that's why these next couple of weeks are so important. What happens with the Towns extension, and to a lesser extent Hart's, will determine whether the core Rose assembled over the last two years can stay together or whether it'll have to be broken up. In short, if Towns sticks to his guns and demands the Knicks pay him his max deal, Rose will have no choice but to trade one of his starting players; if he's willing to follow in Brunson's footsteps and "leave some money on the table," than the core stays intact. 

Towns has indicated he's amenable to taking less than the max, which is good. The question is how much less? Let's assume that the initial offer from Rose of $180 million was just a bargaining ploy. If both sides can meet halfway, that comes out to $228 million, or $57 million per year. That's about what he's making this season, and roughly $4 million less than his player option next season. And if the deal gets done before October 20, and Towns opts into his player option - absolutely essential - Rose can incorporate that player option into the overall contract, thus lower the remaining three years, perhaps enough to avoid having to shed salary in another two years.

If Towns elects not to sign an extension and opts out of his player option next summer, believing he can get a better deal elsewhere, there is currently only one team that would be able to accommodate his demands without having to get rid of a player: the Brooklyn Nets. The Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers will have $56m and $54m respectively, meaning they would still need to shed salary in order to sign him. All three teams are not considered contenders. Translation: KAT doesn't have the leverage he thinks he does. He can pout all he wants, but if he wants to play for a contender, the Knicks are his best and only choice.

As for Hart, I'm less worried about him. The Knicks can always pick up his team option of $22.3 million next season and kick the can down the road until 2028. They'd be taking a chance that Hart doesn't bolt, but given how tight he and Brunson are, it's a chance worth taking. Besides, with that finger the way it is, there's no guarantee that Hart will be playing basketball in another three years. Signing him to a multiyear extension would not be a wise business decision. And if we know anything about Leon Rose, it's that he makes excellent business decisions.

How concerned should Knicks fans be? On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd say about a 4. The closer we get to October 20, the more that number climbs. But even if we get to the 20th and no deal is done, that doesn't mean a deal can't happen later; it just makes it harder for the numbers to work.

My point is this: the Knicks won the NBA championship last season. The man responsible for assembling that roster has earned the benefit of the doubt. Don't panic; avoid the naysayers who feel the need to stir the pot. They don't know as much as they say they do.

To quote the late, great Bob Marley, "Don't worry about a thing. Cos every little thing gonna be alright."

Banks A Lot

They say baseball is a game of redemption. They obviously never watched a football game. Going into yesterday's contest between the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium, Deonte Banks was a man with something to prove. The beleaguered cornerback had a brutal 2025, and many thought he was certainly going to be a goner in the offseason.

But rather than cut him, John Harbaugh elected to keep him, believing his skills could be harnessed with a new defensive coordinator. Through the first three games of this season that faith had not been rewarded. Though Banks was marginally better than last season, he was still a far cry from the player the Giants thought they were getting when Joe Schoen traded up in the 2023 draft to take him with the 24th pick.

And then, just like that, a switch flipped and Banks had the game of his pro life. He broke up no less than five passes thrown by Jacoby Brissett. But it was the last three that proved to be the difference maker. With Arizona on the Giants four-yard line, and trailing by six with 22 seconds left in the game, Banks broke up passes to Michael Wilson and Trey McBride at the goal line. And then on 4th and goal, Banks jumped the route, intercepted a pass meant for Wilson and ran it all the way back 98 yards for the icing on the cake. 

Final score: Giants 36-24.

On a day when Jameis Winston proved he could still throw a football in this league, the outcome came down to a goal-line stand from the unlikeliest player on the roster. Indeed, it was the second straight week that the Giants needed a defensive stop to preserve a win. What a difference a year makes. Last season both these games would've been losses. You know it and I know it.

While Banks may have earned himself a game ball, he was not the only defensive hero on the field for Big Blue. For the second game in a row Arvell Reese made his presence felt. He had nine tackles - one for a loss - and one interception. The former Ohio State phenom leads the NFL with 27 solo tackles this season. He has been everything the Giants could've hoped for when they took him with the 5th pick in the 2026 draft. It is inconceivable that two teams with defensive needs passed on him; one of those teams just happened to be the Jets.

Go figure, right?

But defense was not the only story of this game. The offense had its best showing since opening week against the Cowboys. Malik Nabers caught 6 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown. It was the first time since the loss at Dallas last season that the all-pro wide receiver cracked the 100 yard mark. And just days after the Giants acquired J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 5th round pick, Winston had arguably his best game as a Giant. The 12 year veteran threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns. 

It took a while but the Giants offense finally got going late in the second quarter. Winston hooked up with Malachi Fields and Nabers to put the Jints up 19-14. In typical Winston fashion, however, he also threw two picks which led directly to 10 points for the Cardinals. You take the bad with the good with Jameis. Remember, this was the same guy who in 2019 led the league in passing yards AND interceptions. It's 50 / 50 whether the hits his own player or the opponent's.

That the Giants are 3-1 after losing both Jaxson Dart and Brian Burns is a testament to Harbaugh and his coaching staff. He simply refuses to let his players feel sorry for themselves. You can tell by their demeanor that they expect to win. And on a day when the franchise honored the 1986 championship team, the 2026 team found a way to do just that. 

For the time being, New York sits alone in first place in the NFC East. They travel to Washington next Sunday to play a 1-3 Commanders team that lost at home to the Indianapolis Colts and is missing its starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and its backup Marcus Mariota both to injuries. After that, the New Orleans Saints come to MetLife. Dare I say a 5-1 start is in the offing.

I'm getting ahead of myself, you might say. Perhaps you're right. But after watching this team find new ways to lose winnable games over the last few years, maybe it's time to dream big. 

After all, what have we got to lose?