Immanuel Quickley, a guard with the New York Knicks, turned to social media after becoming one of only a few players from the 2020 class to miss the Monday deadline for signing a rookie scale contract extension.
Between July 1 and the deadline, 14 players signed their extensions. Famous athletes who signed max contracts include Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets, and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Josh Green with the Dallas Mavericks, Cole Anthony with the Orlando Magic, and Payton Pritchard with the Celtics are three less well-known players who are currently negotiating deals.
Immanuel Quickley may not be certain of his future plans, but there is little doubt that he has earned a spot in the league. After failing to hit 40 percent in each of his first two seasons, he had something of a breakthrough year last season, scoring a career-high 14.9 points per game and shooting 45 percent from the field. Most significantly for Knicks supporters, he contributed to New York’s 47-35 record, which placed them sixth in the Eastern Conference.
The squad and Quickley will be counting on him to build on that achievement. In a much improved Eastern Conference, the Knicks are attempting to make a statement. And after the season, Quickley will become a restricted free agent.
If he can increase his scoring totals while maintaining the same level of effectiveness as last season, he’ll be in high demand when free agency opens up in the summer of 2019. Quickley might, with a successful 2023–24 campaign, push New York to open their wallets.
