This cloud hovering over the Knicks was exactly what Josh Hart wanted to avoid.
asserted
Hart → hover → what
Now that a lack of a contract extension is his reality, though, he doesn’t have much choice other than to accept it.
asserted
he → have → it
“Everything is gonna work out, so I’m not really too stressed over it, [or] put too much into it,” Hart said after practice Saturday.
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Hart → go → practice
“Obviously, we have high expectations.
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we → have → expectations
It’s good to be able to just focus on the season and keep it moving.”
asserted
It → ’ → it
Hart spoke during media day about not wanting his negotiations with the Knicks over a contract extension “trickling into the season,” knowing that uncertainty could at times “wear people down and it can affect how you go out and handle business on a day-to-day basis.”
uncertain
you → speak → basis
Ideally, it all would have been handled before the season started.
asserted
season → handle → ?
But the Knicks released a statement Friday that they were suspending all contract extension negotiations until later in the season as they navigate owner James Dolan’s mandate to stay out of the second apron.
asserted
they → release → apron
Karl-Anthony Towns’ displeasure over the current situation has gotten the most attention, but Hart — who is eligible for a four-year, $131.2 million extension — has detailed the potential negative ramifications a lack of clarity can have on the team.
asserted
lack → get → team
All will now have to play with that uncertainty hanging over their heads.
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All → have → heads
A day after the statement was released, Hart acknowledged that it will be something they have to deal with.
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they → release → ?
“There will be days when you don’t think about it, days where you’re like, ‘Let’s hoop,’ and then other days where it’s top of the mind,” Hart said.
asserted
Hart → think → mind
“We’re human, sometimes it’s difficult if you don’t know what your future is.
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future → ’re → ?
Sometimes that’s tough, battling that, some days.
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that → ’ → that
But some days, you’re not even worried about it.
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you → ’re → it
You just gotta focus on going out there and hooping.
asserted
You → got → ?
Right now, I’m cool.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
I’m focused on the season.
asserted
I → ’m → season
Hart is set to make $20.9 million this year and has a team option for $22.3 million next year.
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Hart → set → million
Both he and Towns have said they are willing to make financial sacrifices to keep this group together, but Hart also previously said there was little progress toward finding a number both sides were happy with.
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sides → say → number
Towns was more direct, saying the offer — which The Post’s Stefan Bondy reported was for four years and about $200 million (about $77 million less than his max) — wasn’t in a range that “values” him.
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that → say → him
Keeping everyone together is a juggling act that has the potential for hurt feelings.
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that → keep → feelings
“At the end of the day, I’m under contract in New York,” Hart said.
asserted
Hart → ’m → York
“We have a hell of a team that’s gonna try and repeat.
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that → have → team
I’m in an amazing situation off the court.
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I → ’m → court
No, it’s not frustrating.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
Obviously, you want to get some of those things done, but if it doesn’t, it’s nothing where you lose sleep over it.
asserted
you → want → it
We’re blessed to be out here playing basketball for a living.
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We → ’re → living
It’s not frustrating, we just gotta make sure we continue to block out the noise and whatever rumors that whatever random person says their sources said on Twitter or whatever you want to say, we just gotta block that out and keep it moving.
asserted
we → ’ → it
Nobody knows Hart better than Brunson — and nobody knows how Hart will handle this uncertainty better than him.
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Hart → know → him
“He’s gonna be a professional,” Brunson said Saturday.
asserted
Brunson → go → ?
Everyone’s gonna be professional and continue to do their jobs.
asserted
Everyone → go → jobs
No matter what the situation is, things are gonna happen.
asserted
things → go → ?
No matter what, when we’re out there on the court, we’re gonna have each other’s backs.”
asserted
we → ’re → backs
And as Knicks captain, not letting this all become a distraction that derails their hopes of repeating as champions will be a new challenge for Brunson’s leadership.
asserted
that → let → leadership
“There’s only potential distractions when you read and believe what people are saying,” Brunson said.
asserted
Brunson → ’ → ?
“No matter what’s being said, no matter what’s being talked about consistently or not, you believe what you wanna believe, you hear what you wanna hear.
asserted
you → say → what
It’s on us as teammates and individuals and professionals to understand what the nature of it is.
asserted
nature → ’ → it
People are gonna talk about it.
asserted
People → go → it
So we gotta control what we can control and do our jobs.
asserted
we → got → jobs
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
