The Knicks are still enjoying the honeymoon period following the franchise’s first title since 1973, but it won’t be long before the front office has to start making big decisions on some of the contributors who played key roles during the championship run.
As Jake Nisse of The New York Post writes, while New York’s entire starting lineup is under contract for 2026/27, a few key reserves are hitting free agency, and the team figures to prioritize center Mitchell Robinson and wing Landry Shamet, along with rookie forward Mohamed Diawara.
However, the Knicks project to operate in first tax apron territory even without those players under contract, so re-signing them would almost certainly make New York a second apron team. That would prohibit the club from aggregating salaries in trades or signing outside free agents for more than the veteran’s minimum, among other restrictions.
Figuring out an extension for starting center Karl-Anthony Towns also figures to be an offseason priority, ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes within his preview of the team’s summer. While Towns had an up-and-down season and posted his lowest scoring average (20.1 PPG) since his rookie year, he proved his value during the playoffs by making a significant impact on both ends of the floor.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Mikal Bridges was a frequent target for criticism over the last couple seasons due to his inconsistent offensive production after the Knicks gave up five first-round picks to trade for him, so it’s no surprise that the team’s championship appeared to take a weight off his shoulders, writes Howie Kussoy of The New York Post. “F–k them picks” was an oft-repeated mantra by Bridges and his teammates in the wake of Saturday’s Game 5 win. “F–k ’em,” teammate Ariel Hukporti said. “Look what we got … We got him out of Brooklyn. Look at him now, you’re a champion. Look at him now.”
- Josh Hart‘s ability to make an impact without scoring – and his willingness to accept that role – makes him the sort of player that every team with championship aspirations could use, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. “Everybody wants to be the guy that scores the most, that puts the ball in the basket, and that’s not everybody’s path,” Hart said. “That wasn’t my path, and sometimes that’s a tough pill to swallow, but when you embrace that, when you’re a star in your role. You take pride in doing the little things, that breeds winning basketball. For me, as embraced as I was in this city, wearing this jersey, that sacrifice was easy. Some days, it was tough, don’t get me wrong. But you sacrifice for moments like this.”
- Duke’s Isaiah Evans was among the prospects who took part in a group workout with the Knicks shortly after they returned home from San Antonio, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv. Evans, the 24th-ranked player on ESPN’s big board, could be in play for New York with the No. 24 or No. 31 pick in next week’s draft.
- While letting Jalen Brunson get away in free agency in 2022 was the most obvious way in which the Mavericks and former general manager Nico Harrison helped aid the Knicks’ championship run, New York also benefited from Dallas’ decision to part ways with “injury-prevention mastermind” Casey Smith, writes Tom Haberstroh of Yahoo Sports. As Haberstroh details, the Knicks have been much healthier in general since hiring Smith as their VP of sports medicine in 2024 after he was let go by the Mavs. OG Anunoby, who was out for two games in the second round due to a mild hamstring strain, was the only Knicks regular to miss any time with an injury during the team’s title run this spring.
