3 Reasons the Knicks need to extend Immanuel Quickley immediately

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.

2: Cheaper contract due to poor playoff performance

While a player struggling isn’t usually a sign that they should be handed a long-term contract, the opposite is true with Quickley. There is no sugarcoating his offensive numbers in this past postseason, averaging just 9.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.5 steals per game on ghastly 35-24-85 shooting splits.

His process on offense became rushed, often visibly hesitating between passing and shooting before ultimately doing neither well. He suited up in eight contests before Bam Adebayo collided with him in Game 3 against Miami, resulting in an ankle sprain that caused him to miss the rest of the postseason.

However, this also means that a deal will almost certainly be a bit cheaper than if he had carried his regular season numbers into the playoffs. While the latter outcome would have been ideal from a pure winning standpoint, this is an acceptable consolation prize.

If the Knicks wait until next summer’s free agency to re-sign him, Quickley has a full season to boost his value even further. This could result in a rebuilding team with lots of salary cap space signing him to an offer that New York won’t have the money to match.

After the recent Obi Toppin trade for two protected second-round picks, having both 2020 first-rounders leave for almost nothing in a one-year span would be a disaster.

1: His continued development as a player

While the landscape of NBA free agency and a potentially cheaper contract are both solid reasons to extend Immanuel Quickley, the most important one is that he’s simply showcased enough talent to be worthy of a long-term commitment.

After entering the league as a microwave bench scorer as a rookie, he slowly developed into an all-around lead guard who can play both on and off the ball. Quickley improved his playmaking and defense as a sophomore, then put on weight to become a stronger finisher this past year.

After shooting 58.8% in the restricted area on just 0.9 attempts per game in his first two seasons, he hit 65.3% of his looks on 1.8 attempts each night in 2022-23.

He also just completed his finest season on the other end of the court, cementing his status as one of the best perimeter defenders on the roster. Quickley led the team in both steals and deflections last year, using his 6’8″ wingspan to consistently disrupt passing lanes and strip opposing ball-handlers.

He’s made considerable improvements to his game each season that he’s been in the NBA and after just turning 24 years old, it appears that he’s still far away from reaching his ceiling as a pro.

If the front office extends Quickley at around $20 million annually, it could end up looking like a steal similar to Jalen Brunson’s contract in a couple of years.

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