NBA Rumors: Impactful Knicks Reserve To Become Free Agent

Ever since coming over in a trade deadline deal, super-sub Josh Hart has been more than the New York Knicks could have possibly asked for. He's averaging 11.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and shooting... wait for it... 61% from three-point range.

And despite his "perfect fit" with the Knicks and head coach Tom Thibodeau (per Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype), he will be exercising his opt-out on his $12.9M contract option for next season to become a free agent. But, as Scotto points out:

Fear not Knicks fans, Hart loves the fit in New York, and the Knicks want to re-sign him in free agency… I don’t see him leaving. I see him getting either a three or four-year deal at some point once he becomes eligible.

Knicks Insider Ian Begley whole-heartedly agrees, telling us that the Knicks must have known that Hart would be keen to re-sign in New York when they made the trade to bring him over from Portland.

His first press conference, that was on my mind, so I asked him, after being traded a few times, are you looking for more of a full-time home and if he saw this as a long-term potential spot. He spoke a lot about his connections to the team, Leon Rose, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle, and I believe he and his wife are starting a young family, so he talked about wanting to have some stability there.

As for the state of the team after an embarrassing loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, Hart says don't blame it on fatigue.

Josh Hart on fatigue: “You got people getting up at 6 am doing 12-hour shifts. Those guys are tired. For us, we’re playing a game…We gotta keep that in perspective.”

(via @sny_knicks, h/t @IanBegley)

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— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 8, 2023