There are two paths that the New York Knicks can take this summer to build upon the roster that gave fans the incredible 2022-23 year.
One would be to maintain the current rotation, which played at a 56-win pace to end the regular season after the Josh Hart trade. The other would be to consolidate their numerous future first-round picks and young players to acquire a star, specifically one that fits alongside Jalen Brunson and can solidify New York as a true contender.
No matter what path they inevitably choose before the end of the summer, extending Immanuel Quickley should come first and foremost.
The 23-year-old point guard had a breakout third season, averaging a career-high 14.9 points off the bench to go along with 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He hit over 52% of his two-pointers, 37% of his threes, and 82% of his free throws.
With just one year remaining on his rookie contract, it makes sense for New York to work on an extension before he hits restricted free agency next July. Here’s why the front office should look to get it done as soon as possible.
3 reasons why New York needs to extend Immanuel Quickley this summer
3: Players are signing larger deals each year
As the salary cap continues to rise, teams are comfortable spending massive amounts of money on players that wouldn’t have made nearly as much a decade ago. Signing someone to a deal that may seem exorbitant today will likely end up looking cheaper in as little as 2-3 years.
Many were skeptical when Julius Randle was extended after the 2020-21 season, wondering if his deal would become one of the worst in the league if his playoff failures bled into the following regular season.
While his postseason struggles remain, his deal still isn’t an albatross contract by any means. He’ll be just the 49th highest-paid player in the NBA next season behind names such as Kyle Lowry, Michael Porter Jr., Gordon Hayward, and Jordan Poole.
So while the rumored extension price of $20 million per year may seem steep for Quickley, it’s hard to imagine him not living up to his deal as he enters his athletic prime. Especially when players such as former Nuggets guard Bruce Brown, who averaged 11.5 points per game last season, are signing deals in the $22-24 million range this summer.
With the NBA projected to sign a new TV deal after the current one expires in 2025, all signs point to the salary cap climbing even further upwards.