Knicks Engage Several Clubs in Preliminary Talks on Karl-Anthony Towns Trade
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The New York Knicks have contacted multiple franchises about a possible deal involving center Karl-Anthony Towns, according to league sources familiar with the discussions. Conversations have reportedly included the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets.
The trade chatter intensified after Monday night’s 17-point defeat to the injury-depleted Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden, a game in which New York trailed by 30 in the first half and was booed off the floor at intermission. Fans singled out Towns with boos twice in the fourth quarter—once when he exited with just under five minutes remaining and again 29 seconds later when he re-entered for Mitchell Robinson, who had picked up two quick fouls.
New York has dropped nine of its last 11 contests and, after holding a 23-9 record three weeks ago, is now in danger of slipping into the play-in tournament. Over the 10 games preceding Monday’s loss, the Knicks owned the league’s second-worst defensive rating.
The setback came despite the return of guards Jalen Brunson (right ankle sprain) and Josh Hart (right ankle soreness). “Guys aren’t going to be 100 percent—it’s the dog days of the season—but the effort we had today was embarrassing,” Hart said. He acknowledged his ankle is still not fully healed but chose to play because of the team’s recent slide.
Two weeks earlier, owner James Dolan told reporters he expected the club to reach at least the NBA Finals and expressed confidence in the roster. Since that statement, the Knicks have been routed by the top-seeded Detroit Pistons and posted a 2-6 record. Dolan left his courtside seat at halftime on Monday and did not return, a gesture observers previously saw during a lopsided 2019 defeat that preceded front-office changes.
Columnist Stefan Bondy of the New York Post wrote that while firing head coach Mike Brown would be hasty, a significant roster shake-up is warranted. Bondy suggested that everyone except Brunson and Hart should be available in trade talks, including Towns and forward Mikal Bridges. He proposed a hypothetical deal sending Towns and additional salary to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Jrue Holiday and forward Jerami Grant.
Towns, acquired in a blockbuster trade last offseason, has struggled to find consistency under Brown. Addressing the boos, he said, “Fans are doing their part and we’ve got to do our part,” acknowledging that the Knicks never seriously threatened Dallas.
No agreement appears imminent, and it remains unclear how aggressively New York will pursue a move ahead of the trade deadline. For now, the front office is gauging interest around the league as it weighs potential options.
Source: Hoops Rumors
