Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks reportedly 'tens of millions apart' in contract talks

As always, it comes down to money — and the sides are not close, reports ESPN's Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective Podcast ( hat tip Real GM ).

"I want to talk about the overall value of the contract, because Karl-Anthony Towns is eligible to sign a four-year, $276 million extension. That's his max that he's eligible to get... He and his side have a position on what he wants to sign for. The Knicks have a position on what they have offered. So those are the parameters. From what I understand, they are tens of millions apart. They're not close."

Towns is under contract this season for $57 million. The extension talks start with 2027-28, when Towns has a $61 million player option. New York wants Towns to opt out of that big number and take less per year in exchange for more guaranteed money across multiple years, but the question is: how much less per year? A contract that starts at $45 million a season? $55 million? Whatever that starting number is impacts the overall number of that contract.