The Karl-Anthony Towns situation in New York doesn’t look like it’s headed for calm anytime soon.
The Knicks appear to be at a point where Leon Rose and James Dolan have to sort out where this goes next, and the source material points the finger more toward Dolan as the man signing the checks. At the same time, there’s a case to be made that Rose could step in and make the argument that Towns needs to be paid so the Knicks can keep chasing a championship after doing so a year ago.
If the Knicks decide a change is coming, a Towns trade is at least on the table. That might sound wild, but the reality is simple: New York controls the situation, and if the front office believes moving on is the right call, it can happen.
In looking for possible destinations, the New York Post floated the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, and other teams as fits. Stefan Bondy wrote, “Only a few possible suitors stand out to me right now in terms of cap space teams and fit.
Chicago and the Clippers have the cleanest path. The Nets can get there with the money, but that’s not a good fit.
Golden State and Dallas could get around [$50 million] in space with more tinkering,”
A Knicks-Nets deal wouldn’t be unprecedented. The teams already pulled off a trade about two seasons ago involving Mikal Bridges and a slew of draft prospects, though this kind of move would obviously carry a different feel.
There’s also the question of whether Towns would want Brooklyn at all. He grew up in New Jersey and has obvious ties to New York City, but the article makes clear that playing for the Nets and playing for the Knicks are two very different things. If that’s where this ends up, Towns would have to live with it.
In Other News...
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Jericho Sims is among the names being discussed as part of those talks, with Milwaukee and Memphis also mentioned as teams that could factor into the mix. Nothing has been finalized, and the conversations remain exploratory, but it is another reminder that players the Knicks once developed can pop back into the leagues trade chatter in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
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Bruce Brown and James Wiseman are still on non-guaranteed deals, and the Knicks have the financial room to add one more veteran minimum contract if they decide they want extra depth before opening night. Around the league, similar end-of-roster decisions are still unfolding for players like Cisse, Sims, Peavy, Tshiebwe and Potter, but for the Knicks the bigger question is whether they use that flexibility now or let the group they have carry into the start of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Brunsons Knicks Sacrifice Is Creating A New Roster Problem
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Now that same approach is creating a different kind of pressure. Carmelo Anthony pointed to Brunsons deal as a precedent that may have raised expectations for other players to take less, and that has started to complicate negotiations with Towns and Josh Hart. The Knicks have found a model for competing at the top, but the challenge is keeping that model from turning into a sticking point when the next contracts come due. [Read more 🡒]