Carmelo Anthony believes the New York Knicks have made the right call by putting contract negotiations on hold as they prepare to defend their NBA championship.
With Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart both eligible for extensions, New York announced last week that discussions would be paused until later in the season, allowing the team to focus on basketball.
Anthony, who spent seven seasons with the Knicks, supported the decision while speaking at NBC Sports studios on Monday, according to ESPN.
“I think it’s happier times, I just think things just move so fast now that you get a chance to celebrate the championship, then it’s business as usual, right? Business has got to go on,” Anthony said.
“I think it was big for them to stop the conversations, and just, we’ll get to that. We’ll get to that at the end of the season.”
The decision comes amid uncertainty surrounding Towns’ future in New York.
The All-Star center is eligible for a four-year, $276 million extension and is set to earn $57 million this season, with a $61.1 million player option for 2027-28.
Towns has reportedly been disappointed with the lack of progress in negotiations, revealing that the team’s announcement on Friday “was news to me,” according to ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill.
Hart, meanwhile, is set to earn $21 million this season, with the Knicks holding a $22.4 million team option for 2027-28.
While Hart has expressed no frustration over the situation, he previously acknowledged that unresolved contract discussions could have implications ahead of February’s trade deadline.
Anthony, who was represented by current Knicks president Leon Rose during his playing career, remains confident both sides can navigate the situation without allowing it to become a distraction.
“But whatever’s going to happen is going to happen,” Anthony said. “But right now, let the be all, be the be all, which is basketball. Let’s go defend this championship. And I think both parties understand.”
For now, New York’s priority remains defending its title, with contract negotiations taking a back seat as the new season approaches.
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