It was no secret all summer that the Knicks needed help at center later Isaiah Hartenstein took the big payday to go to another contender in Oklahoma City. Long before the Karl-Anthony Towns trade assembled, the New York front office looked everywhere for another suitable big.
Enter Walker Kessler and the Utah Jazz. Marc Stein reports in his latest newsletter that the sides talked but Utah president Danny Ainge demanded the Knicks two remaining protected first-round picks (Washington’s and Detroit’s 2025 picks, both protected and likely not transferred this year). New York could counter with election changes, but whatever the conversations were, no agreement was reached.
That opened the door for the City blockbuster trade that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesotaalong with that Pistons first-round pick (top-13 protected in 2025, but likely to transfer as first in 2026 or 2027). The Knicks kept their Wizards top pick, which is top-10 protected this season (and with the Wizards expected to tank, Washington will keep that pick this year). That pick is eighth most protected in 2026 and, if not transferred, then turns into two second-rounders.
Stein also reaffirms in his newsletter something already written about and expected: Mikal Bridges won’t talk about an extension with the Knicks until next offseason.
The reason is money and flexibility. Under the rules of the CBA, now most Bridges can extend for two years at about $61 million, but at the end of the season he could extend up to four years and $156 million. While rumor has it, Bridges might be willing to take a financial discount to help the Knicks (as did Jalen Brunson), it would still make sense for him to wait and get the security of years and also a little more money.
