Josh Hart Finds 'Home' With Knicks, Talks Player Option & Long-Term Deal
Josh Hart made it there. But he doesn't want to go just anywhere. Ironically, it's soon up to you, New York, New York.
Hart's past, present, and future have collided as part of one of the biggest stories of the New York Knicks' muted offseason. A remnant of what was, Donte DiVincenzo, is among the newest Knicks, reuniting him with fellow Villanova alumni Hart and Jalen Brunson. As for the present, Hart was convinced to accept his $12.9 player option on the contract that came with him from Portland at last year's trade deadline, even though his 25-game stint in blue and orange proved he was worth well more than that.
The future has not been written but has been discussed: Hart's current contract allows for discussions about a long-term deal to open next week and the two sides are reportedly engaging on a deal in the four-year, $75 million range. Hart himself commented on the rumors as he joined Brunson at Team USA's preparation for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Las Vegas.
“Opting in, I was going to take it one day at a time," Hart said, per Ethan Sears of the New York Post. "We get there and then we can start having that conversation. Hopefully, that’s a place where I want to be and a place I want to call home. So we’ll see.”
Hart previously indicated that he was leaning toward turning down that option, and perhaps would've been well within his right: while the Knicks enjoyed a resurgent season, there's no doubt they became a better team once Hart arrived. Behind his 10.2 points and seven boards off the bench, the Knicks went 17-8 over the final 25 to steer clear of the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament.
Over that span, Hart frequently mentioned how New York was quickly becoming home, perhaps the finest compliment a well-traveled veteran (four teams since entering as a first-round pick in 2017) could offer. He continued to reiterate that feeling during World Cup prep and hinted that the idea of at least 41 electrifying home games, armed with a crowd fresh off witnessing its first playoff series victory in a decade, played a major role in his decision to instantly re-up.
"I’m just excited to be in the Garden for a full 41-plus, hopefully, just having that New York vibe, that New York energy behind us," he said. "It was a hard decision (to take the option), but New York is somewhere I wanted to be ... we’ll get to everything else, hopefully later down the line. But opted in, New York is where I want to be. It’s where I want to call home. I feel like that was the best decision to do.”
Hart will join Brunson and fellow Villanova alum and current Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges in Team USA's quest to make up for a rare non-medal showing at the last World Cup. That quest unofficially begins on Monday night, when they face Puerto Rico in a Sin City exhibition.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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