Karl-Anthony Towns gave the Pacers fits this season and the Knicks hope that continues over the next two weeks. He averaged 30.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 46.7 percent from 3-point range in 36.5 minutes per contest, Zach Braziller of the New York Post notes, with the Knicks winning two of three regular-season matchups between the Eastern Conference finalists.
Towns will likely be matched up against Myles Turner, who averaged 19.5 points and 2.5 blocks against New York this season.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks have been named the 2024-25 NBATA Athletic Training Staff of the Year, Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News tweets. New York’s training staff is led by Casey Smith, VP of Sports Medicine. The staff also includes senior athletic trainer Heather Mau. Smith and Mau are former members of the Mavs’ training staff, Curtis notes. Smith was fired in 2023 by Dallas GM Nico Harrison.
- All the extensions that the Celtics handed out last offseason could prove detrimental unless the front office can find a good trade offer for Jrue Holiday or Kristaps Porzingis, Brian Robb of Masslive.com opines. Holiday still has value but his production tailed off this season and he’s owed $104MM over the next three years. Porzingis has an expiring contract but has contributed little in the last two postseason due to injury and illness. A more dramatic reset for the franchise could be required if shedding these big-money contracts ends up costing Boston valuable assets, Robb concludes.
- While the Sixers reportedly will aggressively shop the No. 3 overall pick, Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports hears an entirely different story. A source told him that the front office isn’t interested in packaging that pick to acquire a veteran star (Twitter link).
Seen mutiple reports of 3rd overall pick plus PG for either KD or Lauri…
KD would be an aggressive win now move, cause he’s 37. But Maxey KD and Embiid sounds good to me.
However Lauri is probably a better fit. He’s a lot younger, he’s a catch and shoot guy and we need a PF cause we are guard/wing heavy. Not to mention Lauris value is considerably less and we could probably also grab some of their young guys in the deal. Cody Williams and Taylor Hendricks included would be a good pull, cause atleast if we fail to win (more than likely) then atleast for the future we have a core we can build from. Both guys have underperformed since being drafted but doesn’t mean the potential isn’t there, both good 3 and D play styles.
After Cooper and Harper I’m not very high on Ace Bailey, especially in our set up. VJ, Tre and Malauch the same there’s potential but I don’t see a fit on our team trying to win now and not willing to rebuild.
I’m still a fan of the wizards deal I’ve suggested a couple times. Middleton, Smart and the 18th pick.
Two win now vets on expring deals and a draft pick
Trade 3 for 6 and 18, but no thanks to Middleton/Smart….better yet trade with Brooklyn 3 for 8 and get our 2028 first back in exchange
I’m pretty sure Embiid has played his last game for Philly. He was giving off strong “I’m done” vibes the last half of the season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Embiid and the 3rd overall for KD happening.
You seem to be unfamiliar with how Danny Ainge operates. It’d take a multiple 1st round draft picks (at least 3 or 4) to pry Markannen out of Utah.
I did not know we hired the guy Nico fired. But he deserves the award, our guys are all healthy and it’s the ECF … and it’s a Thibs team!