With a potential max extension for New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns on the horizon, the team owner James Dolan's looming decision could alter the All-Star forward's future. After helping the Knicks capture their first championship in 53 years, Towns, with two seasons remaining on his four-year, $220.4 million contract, is due for an extension.

However, given how Dolan has stated his reluctance for the Knicks to enter the second apron in the near future, Towns could end up signing elsewhere as ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted, per The Hoop Collective.

“I think a four-year max extension is in the neighborhood of $275-ish million. It's an enormous number. Obviously, if the Knicks felt that way, they would have offered him that; he would have signed it already,” Windhorst said. “So, the discussions that they've had have very clearly not implied that. I don't want to use the word offer too liberally here because that triggers people. But whatever they have discussed hasn't advanced with Karl at this point. So, the ball will be in Karl's court to see what he wants to do with this publicly.”

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Knicks All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns proved he can be a vital piece on a championship team. However, James Dolan's plans of keeping the Knicks underneath the dreaded second apron could result in New York parting ways with Towns.

“Jim Dolan is on the record stating he's not going into the second apron,” Windhorst added. “Now, it's not a court of law. He can change his mind. But if the Knicks stick to the Jim Dolan edict of no second apron, and they've gone up to the line three years in a row and not crossed, but if they stick to that, and they sign Karl Towns to an extension that's in the neighborhood of that $60 million he would get next year anyway, they will not be able to keep this team together.”

Towns averaged 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists for the Knicks last season.