Knicks News Round-Up

The Knicks are keeping an eye on a two-time MVP... Hart giving NY a small discount? ... Jalen Brunson surrounded by 'Bockers and 'Cats when he ties the knot... High praise for Grimes

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend! It sure seems like newlywed Jalen Brunson and the 'Nova Knicks had plenty of fun (more on that in a bit).

 We've reached the point in the offseason where news tends to trickle in slowly and can be easily missed. So let's recap some recent noteworthy rumors/reports etc. 

🏀 The Bucks announced Friday that Thanasis Antetokounmpo, older brother of Giannis, agreed on a deal to return to Milwaukee. No surprise there, as the two Antetokounmpo bros are super tight. (As an aside, I'd definitely recommend watching "Rise" on Disney+. It depicts the incredible journey of Giannis and his family from poverty in worn-torn Africa to NBA stardom. I watched it with my wife and seven-year-old daughter, who both loved it.)

So, why would I mention the Bucks' expected/innocuous signing of Thanasis? Because according to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Knicks expressed interest in signing the elder Antetokounmpo. Now, it's possible that New York was simply looking to add some frontcourt depth. And he was originally chosen by the Knicks with the 51st overall pick of the 2014 draft. However, it's also conceivable Leon Rose and company were thinking big picture and looking down the road. 

Giannis has two years left on his current contract and will be eligible to ink a record-setting max extension in September. NBA front offices throughout the country will keep an eye on Milwaukee to see if Giannis signs on the dotted line before the start of the season (putting any hint of speculation to rest in the process). If, instead, Giannis chooses to hold off, some eyebrows will be raised. Again, the Bucks have him under contract through the end of the 2024-25 season (he has a player option for 2025-26), so there would be no reason for fans in Milwaukee to panic. But it would be cause for concern, as he is invaluable to the franchise's future. 

As we have noted repeatedly, Rose and the Knicks have spent three years amassing valuable assets in hopes of using them to reel in a big fish. It wouldn't get any bigger than Giannis. Consequently, the New York front office would be ready to pounce should the two-time MVP ever inform the Bucks he plans on moving on.

🏀 Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reported last week, "the word on [Josh] Hart's extension, which will be delivered in August, is in the range of four years, $75 million." 

Hart exercised his $12.9 million option last month for the 2023-24 season. Per the new CBA, NY can offer him a contract up to four years in length, starting at 140% of his final season salary. So, the most the Knicks can pay is $81.2 million. It seems Hart may be willing to sign for a bit less than the maximum amount. That would be a win for New York. 

In the same article, Bondy noted Immanuel Quickley "is looking for something bigger" than Hart's purported $75 million payday. This was to be expected. IQ is coming off a phenomenal season and will look for more than $20 million annually on a new deal. Most pundits predict his extension to land somewhere north of $80 million, up to $100 million. That's obviously quite a broad scope.