Could the Cleveland Cavaliers end up making a run at Karl-Anthony Towns?
That possibility is out there, at least according to Andrew Peters of Bleacher Report, who listed Cleveland as a trade landing spot for the New York Knicks star. The idea comes as Towns and the Knicks are not expected to reach a contract extension before the season, which has fueled speculation that the two sides could eventually move in a different direction.
Peters’ proposed framework is straightforward: the Cavaliers would send Jarrett Allen to New York in a deal for Towns. Towns is set to make $57.1 million this season and holds a player option worth $61 million for the 2027-28 campaign.
For Cleveland, the appeal is obvious. Replacing Allen with Towns would give the Cavaliers a different kind of frontcourt force, and Peters believes that move would push them into championship-contender territory. Cleveland is set to open the season with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Allen in the starting group.
Towns’ numbers with the Knicks last season back up why he remains such a high-profile name. He averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game while shooting 50.1% from the field, 36.8% from three and 85.8% from the foul line. He also finished with 56 double-doubles and one triple-double.
The Knicks acquired Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves before the 2024-25 season, and he has been productive ever since arriving in New York. In the regular season, he is averaging 22.2 points and 12.3 rebounds per game as a Knick, and in the playoffs he has put up 18.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
There’s also the contract side of the story. New York has offered Towns $200 million, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, while Towns is eligible for a $277 million extension. The fact that no extension is expected before the season only adds to the uncertainty around his future.
Allen, meanwhile, would not be a throw-in for Cleveland. He is set to make $28 million this season after averaging 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last year, while shooting 63.8% from the field and 70.9% from the free-throw line. He logged 20 double-doubles and added 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in the 2026 playoffs against the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and Knicks.
A one-time All-Star, Allen has also played for the Brooklyn Nets and owns career averages of 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He does not have a no-trade clause, which matters because many around the NBA believe Cleveland could move him if the season goes sideways. His contract is viewed as easy to trade, and plenty of teams like what he brings.
Even with a limited offensive package, Allen still carries value. Few rim-runners make a bigger impact on both ends of the floor than the 64.1 percent career shooter, who has received Defensive Player of the Year votes three times.
In Other News...
Peyton Watsons Cavaliers Debut Raised An Early Concern Cleveland Cant Ignore
Peyton Watsons first night in a Cavaliers uniform came with plenty of the activity Cleveland wanted to see, but not nearly enough of the control. In a loss to the 76ers after the Cavs had built a 29-point lead, Watson was around the ball on both ends, posting eight points, two assists, two steals and a block, while also dealing with the kind of sloppy stretches that can loom large in a debut.
Cleveland brought Watson in through a multi-team sign-and-trade and committed to him with a four-year, $88 million contract, so the margin for a shaky first impression is thin. His line included five turnovers and a team-worst minus-19, the sort of early warning sign the Cavaliers cant just wave off if they expect him to be part of a rotation built to hold up under playoff pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Opening Night Collapse Raises An Ugly Early Question
The Cavaliers came out flying on opening night and looked every bit like a team ready to set the tone for the new season, building a huge lead over Philadelphia behind a first-half surge. The frontcourt was part of the early success, and for a while it seemed like Cleveland was going to turn its first game into a statement win in front of a restless league waiting to see what this group could become.
Philadelphia flipped the script after halftime, though, and the way the game unraveled leaves an uncomfortable early question hanging over Cleveland. Mario Hezonjas return to the NBA offered one of the few bright spots for the Cavs, with contributions on both ends even as the loss wiped out the momentum from the opening half. The bigger issue now is whether this was just a rough night, or the first sign of a problem the Cavaliers will have to answer quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Blew A Big Opening Night Lead For One Frustrating Reason
The Cavaliers opened their new season with a loss that had an unsettling familiar feel, the kind that can linger because it looked so much like a previous Game 1 stumble against the Knicks. Cleveland had enough early firepower to put itself in position, with Donovan Mitchell leading the way and several rotation pieces showing flashes, but the game gradually tilted as the second half exposed some of the same issues that can haunt a team trying to establish itself early.
Mario Hezonja stood out as the top performer in the grading, giving the Cavs a boost with 10 points and useful defensive work, while Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and James Harden all had mixed nights that underscored how uneven the effort became. Mitchell still put up a big scoring night, but the turnovers and late-game slippage helped turn an opening-night lead into a frustrating reminder that Cleveland has to clean up the little things before these chances start getting away from it. [Read more 🡒]