Knicks’ Giannis Inquiry Partly Stalled by Karl-Anthony Towns, Lakers List Austin Reaves as Questionable, Nuggets Lose Aaron Gordon for 4–6 Weeks
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New York, Los Angeles and Denver each face pivotal roster situations as the regular season approaches its midpoint.
Knicks
The New York Knicks explored a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo last offseason after the two-time MVP named the club as a preferred destination, according to multiple league sources. Discussions with Milwaukee never advanced, and one sticking point was reportedly the need to send Karl-Anthony Towns to the Bucks as matching salary.
An Eastern Conference executive told the New York Post there is virtually “no trade market” for Towns, citing concerns over the size of his contract and questions about his impact on winning. The stalled negotiations have left “lingering tension” between Towns and the Knicks’ front office, The Athletic reported.
Towns, asked this week about fresh trade speculation, said he has grown accustomed to the chatter. “I focus on the job at hand, which is trying to get wins every single night,” the forward said.
Lakers
Austin Reaves is nearing a return from the Grade 2 left calf strain that has sidelined him since Dec. 25. The Los Angeles Lakers upgraded the fifth-year guard to questionable for Friday’s game in Washington, the club announced.
Reaves is averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds through 23 games while shooting efficiently across all categories. Los Angeles is 15-8 when he plays and 13-10 without him. Head coach JJ Redick indicated earlier in the week that Reaves was on track to rejoin the lineup during the current road trip.
Luka Doncic, battling left ankle soreness, is also listed as questionable for Friday.
Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets will be without forward Aaron Gordon for the next four to six weeks after he re-aggravated a right hamstring strain in Tuesday’s win at Milwaukee, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. The timeline matches the six-week stretch Gordon missed earlier this season with the same injury.
Gordon has provided 17.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 23 appearances while anchoring Denver’s defense. The reigning champions are 17-6 when he plays and 14-10 when he does not.
Denver could receive encouraging news soon: two-time MVP Nikola Jokic is slated for a reevaluation next week as he works back from a knee issue.
Source: Hoops Wire
