Shams: Knicks Will ‘Always Have Interest in’ Trading for Karl-Anthony Towns
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 2, 2024
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves have the best record in the Western Conference and surely aren’t looking to sell at this point, but the New York Knicks will reportedly be ready if they do decide to move on from Karl-Anthony Towns.
During an appearance on FanDuel TV, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium said the Knicks are “always going to have interest in” acquiring the big man if the Timberwolves made him available.
BASKETBALL ON š @BasketballOnX”[Knicks] always going to have interest in Karl Anthony-Towns but nothing has materialized as of yet”š
– @ShamsCharania
[via @RunItBackFDTV ] pic.twitter.com/sCXTqy33Oq
Towns is under contract through the 2026-27 season with a player option for 2027-28, so it’s not as if the Timberwolves have to trade him before he potentially leaves in free agency.
While he may be a step below some of the elite frontcourt players in the league, he is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection who is averaging 21.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from three-point range.
He would be an ideal addition for several teams, including the Knicks considering Mitchell Robinson is out for the season with an ankle injury.
However, that would require the top-seeded Timberwolves to decide to move on from him in the middle of a potential championship window. That would be quite a shock, regardless of reported interest elsewhere.
