Josh Hart finalizing 4-year, $81 million extension with Knicks - ESPN

Josh Hart is finalizing a four-year, $81 million contract extension with the New York Knicks, his agents Aaron Mintz, Dave Spahn and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports told ESPN on Wednesday.

Hart's deal — which he became eligible to sign Wednesday — delivers him a total of $94 million through the 2027-2028 season.

Once Hart picked up his $12.9 million player option for the 2023-2024 season in June, the Knicks were able to use their full mid-level exception in free agency — which landed them Hart's ex-Villanova teammate Donte DiVincenzo on a new four-year deal.

Hart arrived in the Knicks in a trade deadline deal with the Portland Trail Blazers in February and made a significant impact on the franchise's advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Hart is currently playing for Team USA as it prepares for the FIBA World Cup in the Philippines this month.

Hart shot 58 percent overall and 52 percent from 3-point range in his 25 games regular season games for the Knicks, partnering with Immanuel Quickley to become one of the league's most impactful second units. Hart's developed into one of the NBA's most capable undersized rebounders and demonstrated an ability to guard multiple positions. A good facilitator and finisher at the rim, his Knicks' shooting flashed in New York was the missing piece to complete an all-around offensive game.

The Knicks are the fourth team in Hart's six-year NBA career, which began with the Los Angeles Lakers drafting him with the 30th overall pick of the 2017 first-round and eventually including him in the Anthony Davis trade to the New Orleans in 2019.

Hart was part of the 2016 NCAA championship at Villanova with his Team USA and Knicks teammate, Jalen Brunson, and DiVincenzo and selected the Big