Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks face contract extension stalemate. Where do they go from here?

What's abundantly clear, however, is that there's a lot of work to do for the franchise to keep its star locked up in the long term, and the prospect that he may be playing his final months as a Knick are suddenly a real possibility.

Towns, the 30-year-old All-Star center who helped propel the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years , is eligible for a four-year extension. He had hoped to ink it before the start of the season. Yet, Towns expressed unfiltered pessimism Monday, Oct. 5 to reporters in Philadelphia, indicating just how far apart the two sides are.

"It don't look good," Towns told reporters when asked if he thought both sides could agree to a deal before the regular season opener October 20 against the Philadelphia 76ers.