Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley extension: How much will it take?

Decisions are messier when they’re not only about basketball.

The New York Knicks are better because they have Immanuel Quickley. But whether or not Quickley earns a massive payday over the next few months will involve reasons beyond 3-pointers or pick-and-rolls.

Once July comes, Quickley (along with Obi Toppin) is eligible for a rookie-scale extension, the same type of deal RJ Barrett signed last summer. The 23-year-old is coming off a career season: playing more than ever, scoring more than ever and reaching new levels as a passer and, even more notably, as a defender. He is the reigning runner-up for NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

When Quickley plays, good stuff happens. But what is that good stuff worth?

We attempted to find out.

The Athletic recently polled 15 people who work in front offices across the NBA, asking what they would deem a “fair” extension for Quickley. Each partaker was given anonymity so that he could speak freely. Answers were all over the map.

The largest proposed salary was $27.5 million — $110 million over four years. Three other people suggested nine-figure contracts: five years, $125 million; four years, $100 million; and five years, $100 million.

On the low end, one person suggested four years, $50 million, less than what the midlevel exception will be worth. That person acknowledged Quickley agreeing to such a tiny number wasn’t realistic. His opinion becomes superfluous to this exercise once you realize that if the Knicks thought so meekly of Quickley, they would have traded him a long time ago.

The sweet spot in the poll was somewhere between $16 million and $20 million a year. That’s where 11 of the 15 participants settled.

Two people said they thought four years, $80 million was a fair extension number. Five said four years, $72 million. One said four years, $70 million. Two more said four years, $64 million. And then there was the previously mentioned five-year, $100 million one.

It’s a wonder if Quickley would accept an offer as low as $16 million a year. In today’s NBA, that’s not starter’s money, and the word for a long time has been that Quickley would like to be paid as if he’s a starter — as would be the case for most anyone in his spot. He thrived when he got to run the first unit this past season. As long as Jalen Brunson is around, he is bound to come off the bench, but that doesn’t stop him from playing more than some starters or closing games regularly.

Still, when it comes to potential nine-figure contracts, teams take roles into account. Quickley’s role is as one of the league’s best subs. And thus, there could be a divide between what the guard wants and what the team is willing to give.

One league source polled for this story, who figured the two sides could be far apart for all the reasons stated above, said he would offer Quickley an incentives-laden contract.

He deemed $72 million guaranteed over four years fair but also added another $12 million total in…