The New York Knicks liked what they saw from shooting guard Josh Hart in his limited time with the franchise last season. The team now wants Hart to stick around for a while longer, with the two sides reportedly finalizing a new contract.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Hart will ink a four-year extension that is worth $81 million. The 28-year-old player will now be under contract with the Knicks for the next five seasons, being set to earn $12.96 million in base salary in 2023-24.
The Knicks landed Hart at the trade deadline from the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the four-team trade that also included the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets. The Villanova product proved to be a great addition to the New York team from the very start, averaging 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while also bringing a defensive intensity head coach Tom Thibodeau appreciates.
Hart entered the league as a late first-round selection by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA Draft. He spent the first two years of his NBA career in LA before joining the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers. The Pelicans traded him to the Blazers midway through the 2021-22 season as part of the package that landed them CJ McCollum.
Hart is averaging 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game since turning pro. He is currently part of the Team USA roster that will compete at the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup.
