A new report indicates that New York Knicks wing Josh Hart is likely to re-sign with the team this offseason.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype noted that Hart is expected to decline his player option for next season due to the likelihood of a more lucrative deal.
“According to four NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype, Hart is now projected to be worth $15-18 million annually in free agency this summer,” Scotto wrote. “The overwhelming belief is that Hart will decline his $12.96 million player option and re-sign with the Knicks, according to those four executives and many others around the league.”
Hart’s path to the Knicks had many twists and turns along the way, beginning when he was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 30th overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.
He was subsequently dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played the next two seasons and delivered modest stats.
In 2019, Hart was a part of the blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers, with Hart becoming a member of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Hart remained with the Pelicans until February 2022, when he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.
That tenure with the Trail Blazers came to an end this past February when Hart was one component of a four-team deal that sent him to the Knicks. He seems to have found a home in New York.
One likely reason why Hart is expected to remain with the Knicks is because of head coach Tom Thibodeau’s growing reliance on the former Villanova University standout.
Hart has been especially busy during the Knicks’ current playoff series with the Miami Heat. In the first three games, Hart has averaged 13.0 points, 10.3 boards and 5.0 assists per game.
Besides collecting a pair of double-doubles during that stretch, Hart has also been aggressive against the Heat and shown his defensive skills while guarding Heat superstar Jimmy Butler.
Hart entered the starting lineup during the final two games of the Knicks’ first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s remained in that role ever since.
Assuming that Hart does end up declining his player option, exactly how much he’ll end up getting won’t be known until a new deal is reached. Yet, Thibodeau’s clear fondness for Hart likely increases the chances that his final decision will point him in the direction of the Knicks.
