Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks Unlikely To Sign Extension Before Start Of Camp
Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks have “stagnated” on their contract extension discussions and a deal before the start of training camp is considered unlikely. Despite the lack of progress, the talks have been described as “cordial.”
Towns has been eligible for a contract extension during the offseason that could reach $276 million over four seasons.
“This is a cloud going into training camp,” said Shams Charania.
Towns has a $61 million player option for the 2027-28 season and could become a free agent in 2027.
There is no deadline for an extension between Towns and the Knicks. Towns will turn 31 in November.
James Dolan has been clear that he wants to avoid the Knicks going into the second apron.
Natalie Nakase deserves WNBA Coach of the Year — again
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Head coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries reacts against the Seattle Storm in the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Chase Center on September 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coach of the Year is one of the most peculiar awards in sports. The award is typically given to a coach who exceeded external expectations, and due to the media’s limited inside-access to teams and locker rooms, it’s sometimes difficult to discern exactly who to credit and who to blame for a team’s performance.
Still, it’s our job to try.
Last year, Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase was the near-universal winner of the WNBA’s Coach of the Year award. Normally, that would mean she probably wouldn’t win it again, at least for a few years.
But after much consideration, I’m once again voting for Nakase, who has turned the Valkyries from a fringe playoff team in Year 1 to one of the most dominant teams in the WNBA.
The Valkyries have maximized their roster and have the second-best record in the WNBA at 31-12. They also have the best point differential in the league, outscoring opponents by an average of 7.2 points per game (which even outpaces the Minnesota Lynx’s +6.9 net rating).
A lot of their success has been powered by their defense — the Valkyries have by far the best defensive rating in the WNBA at 99.4. (For reference, the second-best defensive rating in the WNBA is the Mystics’ 103.8. It’s not close). The Valkyries hold opponents to 75.1 points per game; the next-lowest opponent points per game is the Mystics’ 82.5 average.
Natalie Nakase won Coach of the Year last year, too, and typically, voters don’t reward coaches in back-to-back seasons. But I’ve mulled this over quite a bit, and if A’ja Wilson can win MVP year after year, why can’t Nakase be rewarded for outdoing her exceptional Year 1 performance?
The Valkyries were awesome in their first year post-expansion. In the early days of the season, it seemed that the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo might follow in their footsteps. But both teams now have bottom-three records, finishing their season vastly differently than the Valkyries did last year, when they secured the 8th seed with a 23-21 record.
Instead of remaining stagnant or even backsliding, Nakase and her staff ensured the team would take another massive step forward in Year 2, building upon an already-strong defensive identity to become an absolute powerhouse on that end of the floor. Now, the Valkyries are not just a playoff team — they’re a legitimate championship contender, despite not having a single player who averages 15 or more points per game.
Nakase has masterfully managed the minutes and loads of a deep Golden State roster. She’s helped instill confidence in backup point guard Kaitlyn Chen, who is having a career year. She’s continued to entrust Veronica Burton as a franchise player, and Burton has consequently been one of the most effective players in the games, based on numerous advanced analytics. She’s figured out how to get the most out of veterans like Tiffany Hayes and Kayla Thornton, who have seen more reduced on-court roles this season but continue to be absolutely critical components of the team’s success. And she’s helped turn Kiah Stokes into a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Are the Valkyries poised for postseason success, or are they just a regular-season juggernaut? Right now, it’s too soon to tell, though the next couple of weeks will provide those answers. Still, this is a regular-season award, and no one has done a better job of maximizing their roster than the second-year Valkyries head coach.
Other candidates I considered for WNBA Coach of the Year
While I ultimately went with Nakase, there were several other strong candidates for the award.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve deserves a ton of credit for how she manages to empower rookie point guard Olivia Miles, deal with Napheesa Collier’s extended absence, and help Natasha Howard achieve a career year. The Lynx were the best team in the league all season long, and had they finished the year far ahead of the Valkyries, Reeve’s case would have been particularly salient. Ultimately, Reeve was working with a far more talented roster than Nakase’s — Napheesa Collier, Olivia Miles, Natasha Howard, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams have all been All-Stars in the past two seasons — and the Lynx currently sit just a game ahead of the Valkyries in the standings.
Washington Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson also deserves consideration for this award. Few could have projected that the Mystics would be where they’re at right now, and it’s clear that Johnson has been the perfect fit for a young squad headlined by Shakira Austin, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen. The Mystics have had the second-best defense in the WNBA and have gotten the most out of role players like Michaela Onyenwere and Cotie McMahon.
And Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon is a perennial candidate for this award. The Aces are once again among the WNBA’s best teams (currently holding a 30-13 record), despite losing Chennedy Carter midseason and NaLyssa Smith to an ACL tear. But Las Vegas will be rewarded elsewhere on the ballot, and given that so much of this award historically centers around exceeding expectations, Hammon is in a tough spot considering she coaches two Team USA Olympic guards in Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, and the best player in the game in A’ja Wilson.
Sources on extension talks between Karl-Anthony Towns and Knicks
Talks between the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns over an extension have been ongoing this offseason after Towns played a huge role in helping New York capture its first championship in 53 years.
According to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, there’s been plenty of dialogue between both sides and those conversations have been positive, with the Knicks making it known that they think highly of KAT and want him to stay in New York for a long time.
As far as numbers go, Begley reports that the Knicks have discussed deals ranging between $45-$55 million a year. Meanwhile, Begley also notes that Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also eligible for extensions.
Contract talks between Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks are reportedly at a standstill after NBA title
Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks are apparently very far apart on a new contract extension ahead of training camp next week.
Talks between the Knicks and Towns have “stagnated” and an agreement is now considered unlikely, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Vincent Goodwill. The two sides have spent extensive time discussing the extension this offseason, “but there has been no movement lately in negotiations.”
It’s unclear if a deal will end up getting done, or what it would look like. Towns is eligible for an extension worth up to four years and $273 million. He is owed $57 million for this season on his current deal, and he has a player option for the 2027-28 campaign that would pay him $61 million. Currently, Towns is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2028.
Towns averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season, his second with the Knicks, while earning his sixth All-Star nod. The 30-year-old was a key piece in the Knicks’ playoff run, and he shot 55% from the field while averaging 15.9 points and 10.6 rebounds in the postseason while helping the Knicks win the NBA Finals. It marked the team’s first championship since 1973.
Towns is one of several Knicks players either currently facing a contract decision or preparing to. Josh Hart is currently eligible for a new deal, and both Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby will be eligible for extensions next offseason.
To be clear, Towns and the Knicks could come together and reach a new extension at any point. But as it stands, according to ESPN, a new extension is not imminent and appears unlikely in the short-term.
The Knicks will open the regular season against LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden.
Kawhi Leonard to reportedly sign 2-year, $115 million extension with Raptors
Kawhi Leonard is staying put. The Toronto Raptors decided to keep the 35-year-old around for multiple seasons, reportedly signing him to a two-year, $115 million extension Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The move comes as Leonard was set to enter the final year of the three-year, $149 million extension he signed with the Clippers in 2024. Under his previous deal, Leonard was set to make $50.3 million during the 2026-27 NBA season.
Just in: Toronto Raptors All-NBA star Kawhi Leonard has agreed on a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the franchise, plus a player option for the 2028-29 season, his agent Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/naqrW8jBV3
Leonard’s new deal is worth slightly less than the max. The forward was eligible to sign a two-year, $126 million deal, but ultimately decided to take a little bit less from the team, per TSN Sports.
The deal also comes after a tumultuous offseason for Leonard, one that resulted in the forward being traded back to the Raptors, only to have that trade put on hold thanks to an NBA investigation looking into whether he received impermissible benefits from the Clippers when he originally signed with the team.
The NBA came down hard on the Clippers as a result of that investigation, docking the team five first-round draft picks, fining owner Steve Ballmer $30 million and suspending him for a year. Leonard was not suspended as part of the investigation, though was fined $700,000.
With Leonard eligible to play during the 2026-27 NBA season, the Raptors decided to move forward with the trade, which was completed in September. The team then decided to ink Leonard for the long haul.
The move marks a long-term commitment between the Raptors and Leonard, something neither side could agree on the last time the two linked up.
That turned out to be an extremely productive season, as Leonard helped lead the Raptors to an NBA championship. While Leonard reportedly entertained offers from the Raptors during that stint in free agency, he ultimately joined the Clippers in a deal that resulted in the NBA’s investigation.
For the most part, it wasn’t a highly productive pairing between Leonard and the Clippers. While the franchise made the playoffs multiple times and Leonard has turned in All-Star performances, the Clippers have yet to win an NBA championship.
That was the main goal when the Clippers originally signed Leonard ahead of the 2019-20 NBA season. Leonard was supposed to come to the Clippers, bring another superstar along with him and immediately vault the team into a championship contender.
Things looked good early on, as Leonard and Paul George led the Clippers on two deep playoff runs in their first two years in Los Angeles. Leonard, however, missed the entire 2021-22 season due to an ACL injury.
He returned to action the following year, leading the Clippers back to the playoffs the next three seasons. The Clippers, however, lost in the first round in each of those playoff appearances.
Despite Leonard posting a career-high 27.9 points per game and garnering MVP votes for the first time in four seasons, he failed to lead the Clippers back to the postseason last year. At 42-40, the team was forced to take part in the play-in tournament, where it was eliminated by the Golden State Warriors.
Given Leonard’s age, and the team’s declining performance in recent years, it was unclear which path the Clippers would take in the offseason. Given the investigation, punishment and Leonard’s age and contract situation, the team ultimately decided to ship Leonard out. While that deal was on hold briefly, the Clippers and Raptors decided to complete the deal after the NBA’s investigation concluded.
Considering all that, the extension is a risk. But given Leonard’s production, it also might not be the worst idea. In his six seasons with the Clippers, Leonard averaged 25.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He made four All-Star teams and received MVP votes three times. While Leonard is no longer in his prime, he proved he could still play at a high level last season.
The Raptors know how valuable Leonard’s on-court production can be. This time around, the team isn’t willing to let him walk after just one season.
Hawks reportedly trading Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard to Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith
The Atlanta Hawks are trading Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forward Dorian Finney-Smith, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
Finney-Smith, 32, is a veteran 3-and-D forward who could earn a rotation spot in Atlanta. For his career, he’s averaged 8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks while shooting 35.9% from 3 in 27.3 minutes per game.
He played a limited role with the Houston Rockets last season, averaging 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game.
The Hornets, meanwhile, add backcourt depth after trading starting point guard LaMelo Ball in the offseason.
Hield, 33, has seen a significant production dropoff in recent years from his prime, but he remains an effective 3-point shooter when given playing time. A 39.5% career shooter from 3, Hield shot 34.9.% on 4.2 attempts per game while averaging 7.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 51 games with the Warriors and Hawks last season. He’ll provide the Hornets with 3-point shooting off the bench.
The Hawks acquired Nembhard and and Luguentz Dort in the offseason trade that sent Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks. Nembhard did not play for the Hawks.
In 60 appearances including 27 starts with Dallas last season, the undrafted rookie point guard out of Gonzaga averaged 6.6 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 41.5% from the field and 35.6% from 3. He’ll provide Charlotte with depth behind starting point guard Coby White.
Hawks Acquire Dorian Finney-Smith From Hornets For Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard
The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to trade Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith.
The Hornets acquired Finney-Smith from the Houston Rockets this offseason along with three future second round picks. Finney-Smith is on a $14.1 million contract this season with no guaranteed money on his deal for the next two seasons.
Finney-Smith appeared in 37 games with the Rockets last season, averaging 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16.8 minutes while shooting 27.0 percent on three-pointers.
The Hawks also acquired another 3-and-D player via trade this offseason in Lu Dort.
Hield is on a $9.7 million contract for the 2026-27 season with no money guaranteed for the 2027-28 season.
Held appeared in 51 games last season with the Hawks and Golden State Warriors, averaging 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 16.1 minutes while shooting 34.9 percent on three-pointers. Hield will be playing in his age-33 season in 2026-27.
Veesaar suffered the injury during a workout on Sept. 15, and imaging revealed the diagnosis. The news is a blow for the versatile rookie center whom the Hawks hoped would secure a rotation spot behind starting center Onyeka Okongwu.
Veesaar is a 7-foot center who can protect the rim and stretch the floor. As a junior at North Carolina, he averaged 17 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% on 3 3-point attempts per game.
Veesaar was projected as a late first- or early second-round selection in June’s NBA Draft, but dropped to No. 52 to the Hawks amid reports that his agency told teams he would not sign a two-way contract.
The Hawks didn’t announce a timeline for his recovery, but the injury puts his entire rookie season at risk. The Hawks are scheduled to open their regular season on Oct. 21 against the Orlando Magic.
Atlanta is coming off a season in which it finished sixth place in the Eastern Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual champion New York Knicks.
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 19: Jaden Bradley #8 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets during the 2026 NBA Summer League on July 19, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jaden Bradley will enter his rookie season in the NBA with some significant job security.
The Toronto Raptors announced Monday that they have converted the former Arizona point guard’s two-way deal to a multiyear contract. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports the deal is a four-year contract worth $9.3 million.
The Toronto Raptors converted rookie two-way guard Jaden Bradley to a 4-year, $9.3 million deal, league sources told @hoopshype. This first year of the deal is guaranteed. Bradley was the 50th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft out of Arizona, where he was the Big 12 Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/2FV8dB6S7J
Bradley was selected 50th overall by Toronto in the NBA Draft. By extending a multiyear contract to Bradley ahead of the season, the Raptors are making it known that they plan to utilize the 6-foot guard as a significant role player this year and beyond.
One reason the Raptors opted to announce the deal now could be that they were waiting on the Kawhi Leonard trade to become official after the NBA halted the transaction while it investigated Leonard’s salary cap circumvention with the Los Angeles Raptors. The trade, which was finalized last week, sent Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick to the Clippers in exchange for Leonard.
More than likely the Raptors had been planning to convert Bradley’s two-way deal for months but couldn’t fully go through with it until the Leonard deal had been completed.
Bradley will compete for minutes at the point guard spot, backing up starter Immanuel Quickley. Toronto also has former Houston guard Jamal Shead on its roster.
The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Isaac McKneely on Monday.
McKneely spent this offseason with Atlanta’s Summer League squad, appearing in seven games across two summer leagues, five as a starter. He averaged 6.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 18.9 minutes per game.
The 6-4 guard played four college seasons, starting at Virginia from 2022 to 2025 before transferring to Louisville for 2025-26. Across 133 games (101 starts), he posted averages of 11.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 29.2 minutes, shooting .422 from the field, .414 from three and .823 from the free-throw line.
During the 2025-26 season alone, McKneely made 96 three-pointers, the fourth-highest total in the ACC, while connecting at a .395 clip from beyond the arc, the fifth-best mark in the conference.
McKneely’s college career included 329 made threes, the seventh-most among all Division I players over that four-year span. Among players who hit at least 300 threes in that stretch, McKneely’s .414 3-point percentage ranked second-best.
A Poca, West Virginia, native, McKneely won West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year honors in both 2021 and 2022. He also led his high school to a state AA championship as a senior during the 2021-22 season.
