Draymond Green predicts Knicks’ championship core won’t stay together

The Knicks won a championship together. Draymond Green doubts they’ll be able to keep everyone together.

New York enters its title defense with Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Miles McBride all eligible for extensions. None has a new deal, and Green believes the unresolved talks could affect more than next season’s payroll. 

“Someone’s going to be the odd man out, if not two people,” Green said on his podcast.

Green’s concern is that players seeking contracts could start pressing to do too much, even while trying to help the Knicks repeat. He also pointed to Jalen Brunson’s team-friendly extension in 2024. Once the team’s best player took less, Green suggested, it became easier to ask others to do the same. 

The issue is already out in the open. Towns indicated Monday that an extension before the season doesn’t look promising, saying he wants a deal that helps keep the team intact while also valuing him.

Green isn’t reporting a breakup. He’s making a prediction, and the Knicks have time to work through these deals. Still, it’s a rather unusual subplot for a team that just won its first title in 53 years: The players know what they can accomplish together. Now they have to settle what staying together is worth.