Mar 7, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) dribbles in front of Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier (3) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
When will Josh Hart be eligible to sign New York Knicks extension?
Josh Hart and Team USA are ramping up to take the stage at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but there’s one date in particular that the New York Knicks fan favorite should have circled on his calendar.
After opting into his $12.9 million player option for 2023-24, Hart can sign an extension with the Knicks on Aug. 9. It was thought that Hart would decline his player option and sign an extension with New York in free agency, but opting into the option gave the Knicks much-needed financial flexibility entering 2023-24.
Hart has no desire to be anywhere else but New York. He said that numerous times after he was traded from the Trail Blazers to Knicks in February, and he repeated that sentiment at Team USA’s training camp in Las Vegas over the weekend.
“Hopefully,” Hart said of a long-term extension. “Opting in, I was gonna take it one day at a time. We get there and then we can start having that conversation. Hopefully — that’s a place where I want to be and a place I want to call home. So we’ll see.”
Josh Hart will be eligible to sign extension with Knicks on Aug. 9
Although Josh Hart is anticipating a big payday, that didn’t stop him from accepting an invite to represent Team USA at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
“It was just something that I wanted to do in terms of going out there, playing for USA, representing your country’s a dream, so having the opportunity to go do that,” he said. “And then having friends on the team: Jalen [Brunson], Mikal [Bridges], BI [Brandon Ingram], Ty [Haliburton], Cam [Johnson].”
His participation is an excellent sign for Knicks fans, as it means he’s pretty confident he’ll sign a long-term deal with New York.
As The Athletic’s Fred Katz noted (subscription required), Hart’s eligible to sign a four-year extension worth up to $81.3 million, a three-year deal worth up to $58.8 million, or a two-year deal worth up to $37.7 million.
It’s almost certain that Hart will sign an extension with the Knicks, but that doesn’t mean the two sides will agree to a deal on Aug. 9. However, that’s a possibility. Regardless of when the extension happens, Josh Hart has found a home for himself and his family in New York, and Knicks fans couldn’t be happier about that.
