Immanuel Quickley, Knicks fail to agree on extension, source says
Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley runs downcourt after scoring against the Celtics during the second half of an NBA preseason game at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 9. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
GREENBURGH — The Knicks and Immanuel Quickley could not reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension by Monday’s 6 p.m. deadline, a league source confirmed, so the guard will become a restricted free agent after the season.
Quickley, 24, is a valuable member of the Knicks’ rotation and was the runner-up for the NBA’s Sixth Man award last season. But he is stuck behind Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ starting point guard. The club may have decided it didn’t want to pay upwards of $80 million over four years to a reserve, even one who is very popular with fans, teammates and coach Tom Thibodeau.
“I love Quick,” Thibodeau said on Monday, about five hours before the deadline. “I love who he is. He can play the point, can play off the ball, he’s good in pick-and-rolls, very good defensively. Rebounds the ball well for his size. He can play a lot of different roles for your team, but his hunger to improve is what makes him who he is.”
Quickley was the 25th pick in the 2020 draft. Last season, he averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 28.9 minutes. He appeared in 81 regular-season games (21 starts).
Thibodeau is not involved in contract negotiations, but he said: “For me, I want all our guys to be taken care of. So his agent handles that. [Team president Leon Rose] has got to do what he has to do there. Everyone has a job to do and a role to play. My hope is that we could always find common ground somewhere. That's what I hope. I'm a big Quickley guy.”
Last offseason, in a similar situation, the Knicks extended RJ Barrett for four years in a contract that could be worth up to $120 million. Rose, in a statement at the time, called Barrett “a core piece of our team’s foundation.”
The Knicks did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Quickley. The team opens the season at home on Wednesday against Boston.
Quickley was not made available to the media on Monday.
On Oct. 2, Quickley said: “I let my agent pretty much handle all that stuff. But I’ve just been locked in on trying to get better, see what I can focus on to get better for the year. Helping myself, and helping my team to win games. Whatever happens happens because it’s all up to my agent and the Knicks at that point.”
Barrett, speaking after practice on Monday, was asked about Quickley. He smiled and said, “That has nothing to do with me. Whatever happens happens. He’s here, he's going to play and we’re going to need him, regardless . . . I love Quick. That’s my guy. You’ve got to kick him out of the gym sometimes. He’s a hard worker. Always positive energy. He’s positive energy all the time.”
According to ESPN.com, Quickley is joined in the no-extension camp by Atlanta’s Saddiq Bey, Chicago’s Patrick Williams, Toronto’s Precious Achuwa and former Knick Obi Toppin, who is with Indiana.
At least 14 players from the 2020 draft class agreed to extensions, according to ESPN.com, including No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards, who agreed to a five-year, $206-million deal with Minnesota.
Payton Pritchard, the player taken after Quickley, signed a four-year, $30 million extension with Boston.
With Steve Popper
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
