'Very Deliberate' Knicks Must Soon Make Immanuel Quickley Decision

Immanuel Quickley averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists for the New York Knicks last season.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 24, 2023

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks will have to make a decision soon regarding Immanuel Quickley's contract.

Quickley, 24, becomes a restricted free agent at season's end and has improved in each of his three NBA seasons. However, given the fact that the team has Jalen Brunson signed long-term along with Quentin Grimes and Donte DiVincenzo, the decision isn't exactly black and white for the Knicks.

"The Knicks are very deliberate with their money," a former executive told Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. "I think they decide on Quickley down the road.

After finishing second for the most recent Sixth Man of the Year Award, Quickley is a serviceable backup guard who can rise to the occasion when asked, but he wants to be paid like a superstar.

“He is going to want nine figures,” one league executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sport earlier this summer. “That’s for four years. I can’t say the Knicks will go that high but they might have to. He is not a guy you want to send to restricted free agency.”

This past season, Quickley averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, numbers worthy of a major payday if he can repeat or exceed them this season. However, the Knicks may not have the money that can keep Quickley if he doesn't sign an extension before the season, especially with RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle all working on nine-figure deals as is.

Assuming Quickley has another strong season, he could play himself out of New York's price range, which could be good for the Knicks this year but bad down the line when he signs elsewhere without getting much in return.

Published Sep 24, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.