Immanuel Quickley is in the final year of his rookie-scale contract, set to change into a restricted free agent subsequent summer time. After the New York Knicks have been unable to agree terms on a contract extension with Quickley throughout the offseason, the 24-year-old guard has doubtless strengthened his negotiation energy together with his stable play to start the brand new season.
In response to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, who was talking on a current episode of “NBA Dash Radio” by SiriusXM, the Knicks and Quickley are nonetheless no nearer to reaching a contract settlement.
“It is a younger participant who was a finalist for Sixth Man of the 12 months final 12 months,” Scotto mentioned. “Extra importantly, one govt mentioned to me he is in all probability their second-best commerce asset. They have been far aside coming into the season on contract extension talks…When you’re the Knicks, and you do not wish to go that top or assume you may lose Quickley to a giant supply sheet from a workforce with cap house, it behooves them to gauge the market and see his worth and if shifting him would make sense or not.”
Quickley is averaging 14.9 factors, 2.7 rebounds and a pair of.5 assists, capturing 44.8% from the sector and 38% from three-point vary in 28 video games off the bench. His capacity to inject tempo into the rotation because the workforce’s sixth man has been important to Tom Thibodeau’s rotations over the previous two seasons.
New York is very unlikely to danger dropping Quickley for nothing in the summertime. Nevertheless, the Knicks may also be cautious of overpaying him and making it tougher to doubtlessly embody him in commerce discussions additional down the road.
With that in thoughts, the Knicks are in a tricky spot. Clearly, Quickley understands his worth. He is aware of that he’ll doubtless receives a commission in the summertime, particularly if there are groups with cap house in want of a younger guard who can put up factors.
The Knicks are working a danger by permitting Quickley’s contract to wind down. They’re additionally sending a message that they will not be compelled into overpaying a participant.
Regardless of how the scenario with Quickley performs out, the message New York is sending will make sure the franchise is taken significantly in future contract negotiations, and that is a battle price preventing.