From EssentiallySports · Prit Chauhan · · 50s
Knicks Halting Towns Extension Talks
Knicks pause Towns extension talks after Barkley's blunt locker room message.
In brief
Knicks pause Towns extension talks after Barkley's blunt locker room message. Knicks delay Karl-Anthony Towns' $276m extension until later in season after Charles Barkley says other players should 'shut the hell up and play basketball'. Originally reported by EssentiallySports.
Knicks halt extension talks
Knicks pause all contract extensions until later in season.
Barkley's locker room message
Barkley says Towns should let this one slide after Jalen Brunson took less money to sign more players.
Brunson's sacrifice
Brunson signed $156m four-year deal instead of $269.1m five-year max to let Knicks build championship roster.
Towns' financial situation
Towns up for $276 million four-year extension with contract ending in 2027 and player option for 2027-28.
Knicks' financial constraints
Knicks cannot afford Towns' max extension without crossing NBA's second apron financial line.
The short version
Knicks delay Karl-Anthony Towns' $276m extension until later in season after Charles Barkley says other players should 'shut the hell up and play basketball'.
