The New York Knicks are just days away from beginning their championship defense, but a frustrating roster reality may be creeping in. The Knicks are already in contract negotiations with star Karl-Anthony Towns, but those negotiations have reportedly stalled, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
They simply can't afford to bring him back for a max $276 million extension and are probably hoping that he will take far less than the max. Even if he does, they could be forced to pay him and star Jalen Brunson a combined $130 million during the 2028-29 season.
That doesn't even include OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges; both of them are set to make at least $35 million annually over the next two seasons. Then there are looming extensions to Josh Hart and Deuce McBride.
The Knicks could be the first casualty of the NBA's second apron
New York is rapidly approaching the dreaded second apron with so many large contracts. They are already paying four players at least $30 million, which is wild considering the salary cap for this season is set at $165 million.
It's only going to get worse, not better. That is, unless they make a bold move to slash salary, such as trading Towns for several smaller contracts or multiple expiring deals. That way, they could hold onto some of their depth.
Of course, that would still potentially make them worse, with them having no replacement for Town's production in the front court. Therein lies the problem with the second apron.
The Knicks can't afford to keep their championship core together
It punishes teams who successfully build strong rosters and forces them to shed talent to stay under an arbitrary line. The Knicks needed 53 years to build a championship team but may be forced to downgrade soon after.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, that is the reality of the situation, and they will have to carefully navigate the path forward. They can't afford to give Towns a max extension. Otherwise, they would have to sacrifice depth.
That's a double-edged sword, given their depth helped them win a championship last season. Fortunately for New York, they don't necessarily have to make a decision this season. They can let things play out and address Town's future next summer.
Still, the prospect of the second apron breaking up a potential Knicks dynasty definitely looms large.
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