DHJ Quick Take
The Trade Package: The Mavericks would send P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford to the Knicks for Karl-Anthony Towns.
Knicks’ Motivation: For New York, the move would break up their current core to gain depth and future assets.
Mavericks’ New Big 3: The deal creates a powerhouse trio in Dallas, pairing Towns with Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg.
A blockbuster Karl-Anthony Towns trade proposal sending the New York Knicks star to the Dallas Mavericks this offseason has been created by Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
Pincus proposed that the Mavericks trade P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, a top-five protected 2030 first-round pick and a top-two protected 2032 first-round pick to the Knicks this offseason for Towns.
This trade proposal pairs Towns with Mavericks stars Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg.
“Flagg is the future of that team (and possibly the league), and that future is bound to include lots of point forward possessions,” Pincus wrote. “With his own outside shot being pretty shaky right now, having a 5 who can shoot next to him will go a long way toward opening up the paint.
“Pick-and-pops between Flagg and Towns could be a nightmare to defend. And while KAT isn’t much of a defensive anchor, Flagg has a chance to be one of the league’s better weakside shot blockers and rim protectors.”
Towns will make $57.1 million next season. He’s eligible to sign an extension this offseason. The All-Star big man is averaging 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game this season for the Knicks while shooting 49.6% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 85.5% from the free-throw line.
In January, Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that Towns was upset the Knicks tried to trade him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo last offseason. Many people around the NBA believe New York and Towns could part ways this summer since KAT’s offensive role with the Knicks has diminished under first-year head coach Mike Brown.
Towns was the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 22.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Knicks. The Kentucky product is universally recognized as one of the best — if not the best — big man shooters of all time.
The Mavericks will miss the playoffs again this season, but they will undoubtedly be better next season since Irving will be back from his ACL tear. A “Big 3” of Irving, Towns and Flagg looks dangerous on paper. Let’s see if it comes to fruition.