Josh Hart Offers Hopeful Update For Knicks' Future

Josh Hart, an undeniable catalyst for the New York Knicks' post-trade deadline surge, offered a hopeful update about his Manhattan future.

Josh Hart has fit like a glove with the New York Knicks since his arrival at the NBA trade deadline. The six-year veteran has played 17 games in New York since coming over from the Portland Trail Blazers in February, helping the team go 12-5 to situate themselves in the fifth spot on the current Eastern Conference playoff board.

Comments to Andscape's Marc J. Spears hint that he may be interested in staying for a while.

'I want bigger things for my wife and myself, just find a home somewhere where we are valued and really like living there ... I think that can be New York," Hart said. "I would love for it to be New York and hopefully the organization feels the same way. Coming up, this contract is hopefully my biggest one, one where I'm making sure my family's fully taken care of. So, I've also got to take that into account, too."

Hart is under contract for $12.9 million next season but is likely to decline his player option to sign a multi-year deal. Though they're working in the biggest market in the United States, the Knicks are already above the anticipated salary cap into the summer of 2024. To that end, Hart will likely want a raise, especially considering the impact he's had on the New York lineup (11.2 point, 6.8 rebound-averages, over 56 percent from three-point range). Any sort of boosted contract for Hart would put the Knicks on the books for at least $105 million in 2024-25 across 10 active contracts. 

It'll be interesting to see how the Knicks approach Hart's impending free agency come the summer. In the meantime, however, there are more pressing matters to attend to: Hart and the Knicks (42-32) will look to end a two-game losing streak on Wednesday night when they face the Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV). 

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