Karl-Anthony Towns has already proved that New York works for him.
He just helped the Knicks win a championship, fits next to Jalen Brunson and has another expensive season before he has to make a decision about his future.
That takes some pressure out of the extension talks, even if neither side wants the question following the team into the season.
Ian Begley gave his read on where things are going when he said, “If I had to take a guess, the two sides will reach an agreement.”
Begley was offering a prediction, with the contract and every important number still unsettled.
The Knicks have to find a deal that makes Towns feel secure without making an already costly roster harder to hold together.
Why the Starting Number Causes Trouble
Towns is due about $57 million this season and has a player option worth roughly $61 million for 2027-28.
A longer extension could begin below that option, giving New York a little more room while Towns receives more guaranteed money over several years.
That structure could give both sides useful security while spreading the cost across several seasons.
That idea works only if the total is large enough for Towns to leave some immediate salary behind.
He averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds, and his scoring fit beside Brunson was one of the reasons the Knicks could play through different matchups without changing their whole offense.
Towns also made the most of his playoff chances, especially when defenses sent extra attention toward Brunson.
His passing and rebounding gave New York another way to finish possessions instead of asking one guard to make every difficult play.
The shape of the contract will matter more to the Knicks than winning a public negotiation.
A slightly lower starting salary helps when the later years also leave enough room for a roster that will keep getting more expensive.
New York Has to Protect the Fit
The Knicks have to build the extension with the later years in mind.
Towns is 30, while Brunson averaged 26 points and 6.8 assists, so their contracts have to leave enough room for defenders and bench players who make the partnership work.
Towns has earned a serious offer after accepting a role that allows Brunson to lead most possessions.
New York should value how easily he moved into a team built around another star.
His relationship with Mike Brown helps because Towns credited the coach after many important playoff wins.
A player is more likely to consider a different contract shape when he trusts his role and knows the coach will keep using what he does well.
No Reason to Rush
Towns could wait and keep the large option, while the Knicks could let another season show how the roster ages.
Neither side gains much from dragging the discussion through training camp, though an artificial deadline could create a problem that does not exist yet.
Towns once spoke about New York's chance to reach the Finals, and now he has won there.
New York has to find a number that respects what he helped build without making the next move impossible.