3 Contracts Knicks should model Josh Hart’s new deal after
The New York Knicks were tossed into almost every rumor around the trade deadline, in talks for this star or that veteran, but in the end, they made just one move. The Knicks sent a lottery-protected first-round pick and failed reclamation project Cam Reddish to the Portland Trail Blazers for Josh Hart.
Hart isn’t a flashy name or a high-scoring star, but he is an incredibly solid player who fits right into the team culture Tom Thibodeau has built in New York. Since arriving Hart’s game has blossomed alongside a deep group of competitors, and the Knicks are 12-4 since adding Hart to the group.
The New York Knicks and Josh Hart have been the perfect match
That’s certainly not all a factor of Hart’s impact, as the rest of the team is playing exceptionally well around him. Still, Hart has been at his best, averaging 11.1 points, seven rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game in a whopping 30.4 minutes per game off the bench. His play has caused such excitement that it’s generating those statistical comparisons phrased just right to put Hart’s name alongside superstars:
Josh Hart has racked up at least eight rebounds, eight points and four assists off the bench in each of the Knicks' past five games. The only other reserves in league history with at least 8/8/4 in five straight games are Larry Bird and Detlef Schrempf.https://t.co/Obp3xHeI1F pic.twitter.com/xhzaZNnDys
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) March 20, 2023
Not only do the Knicks and their fans love Hart, but for his part, the journeyman wing loves being in New York as well. A recent profile from Andscape’s Marc J. Spears revealed that Hart and his wife, who is expecting twins, were excited to move back to the East Coast to be closer to family. Hart attended Villanova, alongside two other stars and close friends now in the Big Apple: his teammate Jalen Brunson and Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges.
Hart also revealed in the interview that he hopes to sign long-term in New York to stick around and build a legacy with the Knicks. The Knicks seem to love him, so there is certainly fertile ground for a deal to get done.
What would a potential contract look like? Let’s first dig into Hart’s contract status and what the Knicks can offer, and then we will look at some examples from around the NBA that highlight the basic contract structures available to Hart and the Knicks.