Josh Hart’s post-championship payday may end up being a fairly modest one.
The New York Knicks veteran swingman Hart is expected to receive a contract for three years and in the range of $60-$62 million, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports this week. Edwards adds that a contract in that ballpark is believed to be the “sweet spot” for Hart and the Knicks.
Hart, 31, has been with New York since 2023. He averaged 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game last season as the Knicks went on to clinch their first NBA championship since 1973.
The former first-round pick Hart is currently under contract for $20.9 million next season and also has a $22.4 million team option for 2027-28. But Hart is already eligible for a new extension from the Knicks, and his max figure would be for four years and $132 million.
Hart does pose an interesting case as he is a beloved “dirty work” player who connects all different sorts of lineups with his ability to contribute to a game with scoring, cutting, rebounding, passing, and defense. On the other hand, Hart’s overall offense can be very inconsistent, and he also produced some ugly playoff follies during New York’s championship run.
In the three years and $60 million range, Hart would be making a little over half of his potential max figure. The spend-conscious Knicks have some other delicate contract situations to manage right now too, which may explain why the role player Hart is only expected to command a modest new extension from them.
