The New York Knicks want to focus on basketball as they get set to defend their NBA Championship.

The offseason was relatively quiet for the Knicks as they lost Mitchell Robinson to the Boston Celtics, but signed Andre Drummond to help fill the void. They also re-signed Landry Shamet, Josa Alvarado, Moham Diawara, and Jordan Clarkson.

They did not re-sign Karl-Anthony Towns or Josh Hart, both of whom became eligible for extensions in the offseason.

With no new contract reached and just over a week before the season starts, the Knicks put out a statement that said they were tabling negotiations until later in the season.

"As an organization, our entire focus is preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of," the statement read. "As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season.”

Speaking to the media, Hart seemed a bit caught off guard when he heard the news about the Knicks’ statement.

He didn’t sound too concerned over things, saying, “Everything's going to work out. I'm not really too stressed over it, putting too much into it. Obviously, we have high expectations. It's good we're able to just focus on the season and keeping it moving.”

Hart has a team option worth $22 million next season. If the Knicks decline the option, Hart will become an unrestricted free agent.

The goal for the Knicks is to remain out of the second apron, which they could enter depending on how much Hart and Towns cost them.

The Knicks are hoping that this statement allows the team to focus on basketball, and while that should work for the short-term, there is a longer term risk.

If the team isn’t playing well, or if no progress is made on an extension as the season rolls along, there will be trade talks, as the Knicks don’t want to lose Towns, who has a player option, for nothing.

Hart’s future is more in the Knicks hands, as they have a team option and can either exercise that for $22 million if Hart outplays that contract, or decline the option and negotiate a lower deal, but for potentially more term. They can also work out a trade in the offseason where they have the leverage and not the player.