With Josh Hart officially in the Knicks’ fold for at least the next four seasons, they can turn their attention to signing another key member of their second unit — Sixth Man of the Year finalist Immanuel Quickley — to a new deal before the start of the regular season.
Quickley can become the Knicks’ in-house focus after they inked Hart to a four-year extension worth up to $81 million, with $58 million guaranteed.
The Knicks made Hart’s deal official in an announcement on Thursday.
The new deal notably includes a team option for the fourth year in 2027-28 worth $22.3 million, according to The Athletic.
Hart, who was acquired at the trade deadline in February from the Trail Blazers, already had exercised his $12.96 million player option for 2023-24 in June, making his total deal worth nearly $94 million if the option is exercised.
“Josh’s immediate impact on our team last season — both on and off the court — cannot be understated, and we are thrilled to announce he has signed an extension,” Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement released by the team. “The leadership and competitiveness Josh brings fits perfectly with the culture we are building.”
Hart’s decision to opt in enabled the Knicks to use their mid-level exception to sign his former Villanova teammate Donte DiVincenzo to a four-year deal in free agency.
The 24-year-old Quickley is slated to earn $4.17 million this season on an exercised club option.
If he and the Knicks are unable to come to terms on an extension, the combo guard would become a restricted free agent next summer.
Veteran guard Evan Fournier sat out France’s World Cup tuneup game Wednesday night against Lithuania with a sprained ankle, according to the French Basketball Federation.
The Knicks have been unable to find a taker this summer for Fournier’s $18.9 million expiring contract after the 11-year veteran fell out of the team’s rotation for most of last season.