Andrew Buller-Russ
Josh Hart may not qualify for ‘star’ status, but to New York Knicks fans, he does. Yet, the Knicks aren’t the only ones infatuated with the 28-year-old swingman who’s developed into a quality two-way player in the Big Apple.
While Hart was only acquired back in February ahead of the trade deadline and has started just one game for the Knicks, his impact cannot be denied. He’s scored in the double digits on 14 of the 25 regular season games he played with the Knicks this season and done the same in five of the team’s seven playoff matchups heading into Saturday.
But now the versatile role player is headed for unrestricted free agency, leaving his future with the knicks up in the air. Based on the impact he’s had in such a short time, playing 30 minutes per game, one would expect the Knicks want Hart back too.
Technically, Hart has a $12.9 million player option he can exercise to stay with the Knicks if he wishes. But after the season he’s had, there’s an expectation that Hart can get a much better contract offer on the open market.
NBA insider Marc Stein suggested he’s yet to hear of “a single team that believes Hart will be” attainable. Hart is represented by the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and there is a strong belief that the Knicks’ ties to CAA, with their former employee Leon Rose leading the front office in New York will lead to an “inevitable” contract extension with the Knickerbockers.
So while plenty of teams may see the value in a player like Hart, getting him away from the Knicks won’t be easy this offseason.
