Steve Popper of Newsday reported last week that the Knicks have talked to multiple teams about the possibility of trading Karl-Anthony Towns. Ian Begley of SNY.tv and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported differently, stating that they haven’t heard any buzz about the Knicks discussing Towns trades.
Sources told Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link) on Monday that the Knicks haven’t been “shopping” the 30-year-old or talking Towns trades with opposing teams. Bondy acknowledges that could change in the coming days, but he doesn’t expect the former No. 1 overall pick to be on the move by February 5.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link), while New York’s front office has attempted to downplay Towns-related chatter, some rival teams believe that’s just posturing and that the five-time All-Star may be available under certain circumstances. At minimum, those clubs think the Knicks want to know what the market for Towns would look like, Stein writes.
Towns, 30, has averaged 20.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists on .469/.364/.856 shooting through 42 games this season (31.6 minutes per contest). He’s under contract through 2027/28, including a $61MM player option in that final season.
Here are a few more trade rumors from Stein’s latest round-up:
- Stein has heard “rumbles” that the Knicks have explored the viability of trying to trade for Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday. Acquiring Holiday might make New York an even more appealing landing spot for his former Bucks teammates Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Stein, who adds that the Knicks are said to be longtime fans of the six-time All-Defensive member and view him as a strong fit in the backcourt next to Jalen Brunson.
- Despite the external chatter about New York potentially weighing major moves, sources close to the Knicks have insisted to Stein that they’re more focused on small-scale deals involving Guerschon Yabusele, who makes $5.5MM this season and holds a $5.8MM player option for 2026/27.
- Anthony Davis appears unlikely to be traded prior to the deadline, Stein confirms. The Mavericks are expected to continue fielding offers for the injured big man over the next several days, but there doesn’t seem to be any momentum towards a deal and Stein hears the 10-time All-Star prefers to stay with Dallas for the remainder of the season.
- The Rockets have made Tari Eason off limits in trade talks ahead of the deadline, Stein reports. The 24-year-old forward, who has dealt with a variety of injuries over the past few seasons, is converting a career-high 46.6% from three-point range in ’25/26 and will be a restricted free agent in the summer.
- In case you missed it, we passed along several more rumors from Stein on Sunday.
Mentioning Giannis wanting to play with Jrue Holiday, then suggesting they should both play for the Knicks instead of Holiday in Milwaukee or Giannis in Portland… that’s hilarious
How would the Knicks match salaries for Giannis & Jrue? They would have to essentially dismantle their current core, 8 months after reaching a conference finals for the first time in decades. Windows are short in the NBA.
Por wants bridges so bridges and Mitch for jrue and reath clears and Kat and Mcbriide for G clears salary wise
Wouldn’t be that simple ofc But in theory you could get the salaries to work in a 3 team deal
Por essentially returning Mil 28-30 draft rights actually gives this decent legs as far as rumors go and there is a scenario where this could all work
Folding a 4th team (phx possibly) for KAT probably even enhances the chance of this mega deal as I dont think Mil wants KAT
Green Grayson and Malauch clears Kat in this scenario
Would be awesome to see Malauch in Mil
Bare Bones of a possible trade
Phx gets Kat and Gary Harris
NYk – Gets Jrue, Nic Richards and G
Por Gets- Bridegs Mitch
Mil- Gets Jalen Green, Grayson Allen, Yabaselle, Maluach and McBride + draft capital (maily there 28-30 picks back but other as well)
Its not the best as far as draft capital but McBride and Maluach are nice young players to build off and they would only have to worry about the 2027 draft moving forward
I wouldn’t do it if I was Phx or Por but they are 2 of the riskier orgs around today so I do think it has wheels especially with Por coveting Bridges so much and Phx in search of their forever 4 today
I don’t understand what POR gets out of any of this… so they trade Holiday for Bridges and give up MIL draft swaps; why would they do that?
Holliday doesnt have any surplus value on the market, hes essentially a number and a pretty big (and long) one at that
The price for BRidges only 2 swaps and 1 first is a pretty good bargain for Por albeit those pick/swaps are more valuable than most especially since they have long coveted Bridges
I wouldn’t make the move either if Por but I also wouldn’t have traded that late lottery pick for Deni either and that proved to be nails for Por . Por has a tough time in free agency and probably needs to gamble a little somewhere so I could see why they would be game even if you and I wouldnt
I also wouldn’t make the move if Phx either but Ishbia is nuts and they so need a 4 who can shoot so I think its in play
.. POR also has Jerami Grant and Deni Avdija. I just don’t see what they need with Bridges. I mean, he is a solid player, plays both ends, long arms, reliable shooter. But I still don’t know why POR would give up so much for such an incremental upgrade.
I guess he’s an iron man, that is not a minor thing especially considering the injury luck of this team. so maybe if Jerami is the outgoing piece (instead of Jrue), that would be much better.
Bridges/Yabu/Dadiet to Portland for Jrue and MIL FRP, MIL pick swaps (hopefully an extra pick or two), KAT/JC and MIL’s FRP/swaps to Milwaukee for Giannis.
I heard someone describe it that way but with Kolek instead of JC, and salaries worked. And I think all teams get something they want that way. Bucks may want more for Giannis, so maybe the WAS FRP and/or SRPs go too.
Swapping KAT/Bridges for Giannis/Jrue is still a very good core. I think if they really want Giannis, it’s realistic, and it also moves KAT’s remaining contract.
I can definitely see what the NYK FO is doing, and it could be both 1) not discussing KAT in specific deals, and 2) trying to gauge his market value. Not all about the deadline. The NYK’s general path going forward (including the options it might have in breaking up this team) will be very dependent on KAT’s value, whatever it might be. After last season, I think they felt good about that value. Right now, they can’t be feeling so good.
KAT has been extension eligible since the past offseason, but that decision will be front and center in the coming off season. Its NYC. So there is zero possibility that the season ends poorly and the FO decides to run it back. If they don’t run it back, KAT almost certainly won’t be extended which likely means he’ll be traded. Of the players, he’ll likely be the first Fall Guy. Which, IMO, is not unfair. If this NYK FO wants a life beyond this season, then they need to be able to envision a post-KAT world.
OK let’s talk about a Giannis fit. He and OG are not a fit with Mitch there. Cause Towns would definitely have to go. And even though I like Jrue. He makes no sense with Bridges making less money, younger. And putting up same stats. I get the fascination with Giannis playing in NYC. So why would you trash Towns value if you want Giannis. Its just asinine. And typical nonsense that the NY media is all about.
As much as I would love to see Giannis as a Knickerbocker. Its ain’t happening this year. Imo Thibs was fired cause he wasn’t a big Towns fan. Yet now all the insecurities about Towns are coming out. Tells me it was Thibs not Rose who really built this team. Towns is under contract thru 2027-28. If there was ever a time to trade him. It was last yr before the draft. When his value was at its peak.
Now we have to ride him out. And support him with players that help make him look good. And that isn’t Twin Towers with Mitch. Look up the stats and stop the infatuation. Knicks play better with Towns at center. 2nd best with Mitch at center and third best with both of them playing. Go look at Towns stats playing with Rudy. They are all down across the board. Today Twin Towers doesn’t work. Most teams are loading up with wings, playmakers, shooters. You don’t need Towns chasing them around. Towns is a top NBA center. Why would you put him in position to FAIL ……
We need a Big 4 who plays D like Reid or Looney next to him. Thats how you help Towns and Knicks.