Josh Hart and Knicks agree to a four-year, $81 million extension

Josh Hart was a midseason reinforcement for the New York Knicks last season. Now he’s there for the long haul.

Hart has agreed to a four-year, $81 million contract extension with the Knicks, ESPN reported Wednesday. He originally opted in June for his $12.9 million salary for the 2023-24 NBA season, meaning that extension will begin in 2024-25 and Hart will remain in New York through 2028.

New York acquired Hart from the Portland Trail Blazers in February for Cam Reddish and his 2023 first-round draft pick. Hart came mostly off the bench for head coach Tom Thibodeau and averaged 10.2 points in 25 regular-season games for the Knicks, 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 58.6/51.9/78.9. He then started five games in the playoffs.

The Knicks (47-35) secured fifth place in the Eastern Conference last season by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs in five games. Her season ended in the second round when the Miami Heat defeated her in six games.

Earlier this summer, the Knicks signed former Golden State Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo to a four-year, $50 million deal while selling 2020 No. 8 draft pick Obi Toppin to the Indiana Pacers. Hart, DiVincenzo and Jalen Brunson won a national championship together at Villanova in 2016.

Now New York’s attention is likely to be on soon-to-be guard Immanuel Quickley, who will be a fourth-year player and a restricted free agent after next season. Quickley averaged 14.9 points per game and earned a career second place finish in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award last season.

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