Where is Immanuel Quickley’s Extension?
Immanuel Quickley has established his place in the Knicks’ future. His extension can’t get lost in the shuffle of the offseason.
When the New York Knicks agreed to terms with Donte DiVincenzo, it was widely seen as the last move of substance for the summer. The team dealt Obi Toppin to the Indiana Pacers prior to signing Divencenzo and rounded out the roster by signing Dylan Windler to a two-way contract. But another move sits on the table, or maybe it isn’t. Where is Immanuel Quickley’s extension?
It is not hyperbole to say Quickley was the third-best player on the team during the regular season. In his Sixth Man of the Year campaign, Quickley put together his best professional season. He is not the flamethrowing scorer his former Kentucky teammate Tyrese Maxey, however, Quickley has proven that being a jack of all trades is just as valuable as mastering one area.
On the season Quickley averaged 14.9 points per game and shot a career-best 44.8% from the floor. His accurate shooting was complemented by the things that made him a joy to watch while he found his consistent offensive footing-dynamic playmaking, high-level defense, and chemistry with virtually every player on the roster.
In spot starts, Quickley was more potent. Quickley has averaged 21.7 points per game, 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 27 career starts, fitting in seamlessly with the starters. On most other teams the offseason debate would be about putting Quickley into the starting lineup, but not for one with Jalen Brunson playing point guard.
The “yeah, but” with Quickley is his less-than-stellar postseason. To suggest the lights were too bright for him feels extreme. Still, there is no denying that he was objectively terrible in his eight playoff games. He averaged 9.0 points per game and dished a whopping 1.0 assists. His shooting was even more of an eyesore. Quickley’s field goal percentage plummeted ten percent to 34.8%, including a frigid 24.8% from three.
As horrific as the eight-game sample size was, there should be no trepidation in giving Quickley his bag. It is hard to find a versatile combo guard with the type of range and tempo that Quickley possesses. On more than one occasion Quickley helped turn the tide in games.
The only scenario where the Knicks avoid paying Quickley is if the team uses him in a blockbuster trade. Joel Embiid’s name has replaced Donovan Mitchell’s as the most popular what-if acquisition. Quickley is arguably the first or second most valuable piece the Knicks can send out.
Given that any star trade, particularly one for Embiid, feels premature, the only question is how much will the team decide Quickley is worth?
If you asked Quickley, his answer would start somewhere around $100 million. The $100 million contract had been a rarity for the Knicks until they dished out $300-plus million on their core of lucky lefties Brunson, RJ Barrett, and Julius Randle. Quickley has just as much claim to a nine-figure contract, being one of the few constants from the team’s two playoff runs under Tom Thibodeau.
The bidding should start at $20 million per year. Sounds like a lot, only it’s really not. Dillon Brooks signed a four-year, $80 million deal with Houston and Dejounte Murray signed a four-year $120 million extension with Atlanta. Quickley’s number is likely somewhere in the middle of those two players.
If the Knicks paid Quickley $25 million annually, it would be the same amount Portland gave their talented guard Anfernee Simons last year. That could mean a four-year $100 million deal or a five-year $125 million deal. Another way for Quickley and the Knicks to meet in the middle could be an incentive-based contract similar to Barrett’s rookie extension.
How the two sides get there remains to be seen; an extension might take some time.
Quickley will have to wait his turn though, it seems. Josh Hart did the front office a solid to facilitate the Divencenzo signing, so he will be up first with a rumored extension of four years, $75 million, Stefan Bondy of the Daily News reported. Hart’s signing should not have much of an impact on Quickley’s signing-the key word being should.
It is no secret the end goal is to end up with a star. By extending Quickley, they will have over $500 million committed to their top six guys for the next few seasons. As nice as the stability would be, the team may rather weigh other options.
If they decide to roll the dice and let Quickley hit restricted free agency things might get interesting. If he replicates his 2022–23 season, a team can put the Knicks in a tight spot, offering Quickley more than $25 million per year.
Scenarios like that are just one of the many reasons the Knicks should take care of Quickley and maintain this young nucleus they spent so many years cultivating. Thus far, the front office has done a good job keeping key pieces together at affordable prices, headlined by the Brunson bargain.
Signing Quickley does not muddy the future, but allowing his lack of extension to linger does. If Quickley signs, he would be the second first-round pick to sign an extension in as many years. Quite a contrast from the Charlie Ward Curse that hung like a dark cloud over the franchise for decades.
The Knicks have come a long way in three years by developing a great core; it would be foolish to kill that momentum by not keeping its glue guy.
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Originally published at https://theknickswall.com on August 2, 2023.
