If the New York Knicks are serious about making a real run at a championship, there's one truth they can’t ignore: the defense has to get better. That’s the line in the sand. Right now, they’re leaning heavily on a top-three offense powered by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns-but when those two share the court, which they do for over 60% of their minutes, the defensive cracks start to show.
Let’s start with Towns. He’s an easy target for criticism, and some of it is fair.
His defensive awareness and foul discipline are ongoing issues, and this season he’s also shooting the ball worse than ever. But let’s not lose sight of the full picture: Towns is still putting up over 20 points and 11 rebounds per game, and the Knicks are +4 points better offensively when he’s on the floor.
He’s a borderline All-Star for a reason.
That said, his name has started to swirl in trade rumors ahead of next week’s deadline. There’s been chatter about a potential blockbuster involving Giannis Antetokounmpo-if that ever materialized, Towns would almost certainly be part of the outgoing package.
But even beyond that dream scenario, multiple teams around the league reportedly believe Towns could be available in other deals. The Knicks are clearly exploring options.
But here’s the thing: even if Towns is moved, the defensive concerns don’t go away. Because Jalen Brunson-while a phenomenal offensive engine-is a problem on the other end.
Let’s be clear: Brunson is elite offensively. He’s smart, efficient, and clutch.
He’s the kind of player who can carry an offense through playoff battles. But in today’s NBA, teams are increasingly unwilling to accept defensive liabilities at the point guard spot, no matter how gifted the player is on offense.
Just look around the league. Trae Young was one of the most dynamic offensive players in the game-and he got salary-dumped to Washington.
Damian Lillard, a future Hall of Famer, is owed over $100 million and is already playing for a second team in two years. Ja Morant’s value has plummeted.
Even Luka Dončić got traded. The league is evolving, and the tolerance for defensive weaknesses at the guard spot is shrinking.
Now, let’s be clear: the Knicks aren’t trading Brunson. Nor should they.
But they are aware of the issue. According to reports, New York has explored ways to acquire Jrue Holiday-a move that would make a ton of sense.
Holiday isn’t just a strong defender; he’s a proven championship difference-maker. He helped push both the Bucks and Celtics over the top.
He’s the kind of guard who can cover for Brunson’s defensive shortcomings while still contributing offensively in big moments.
The numbers tell the story. According to Databallr, the Knicks are a +8.7 net rating when Towns is on the floor without Brunson.
With Brunson and no Towns? That number drops to +3.3.
The real issue, though, is when both share the court. The defensive liabilities stack up, and the margin for error shrinks dramatically.
New York has tried to follow Boston’s blueprint-load up on versatile, two-way wings like Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart, then add a stretch five in Towns to space the floor for Brunson, their version of Jayson Tatum. It’s a smart approach.
But Boston’s version didn’t have any defensive weak links. That’s the difference.
Holiday would be the final piece to that puzzle. He’s not just a theoretical fit-he’s the actual guy who’s done it, twice, with two different contenders.
If the Knicks somehow pulled off deals for both Giannis and Holiday, now we’re talking about a legitimate title favorite. But that’s a big “if.”
For now, the question is more grounded: can the Knicks win a title with a small, defensively vulnerable point guard as their best player?
The league is leaning toward “no.” Outside of Stephen Curry-who, by the way, is a much better defender than he gets credit for-there just aren’t many examples of teams winning with that setup.
The Knicks are going to try to buck that trend. And Brunson, to his credit, has already taken this team further than they’ve been in years.
But expectations have changed. The bar is no longer just relevance or a playoff run.
Ownership has made it clear: a Finals appearance is the new standard.
So now the spotlight shifts. Either Brunson finds another level defensively, or the Knicks have to find a way to build the kind of defensive infrastructure that can cover his blind spots.
Whether Towns is part of that equation or not remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the margin for error is shrinking, and the clock is ticking.