Proposed trade would land Giannis Antetokounmpo with the New York Knicks
It’s been a bumpy season for the New York Knicks, as they continue to adjust to Mike Brown’s offensive system.
One player who has struggled more than most is Karl-Anthony Towns. The All-Star big man is producing at a slightly lower rate than last season, averaging 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
That’s still elite production, but the slide might be just enough for the Knicks to potentially look at their options during the offseason.
According to Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, the most logical reason to consider flipping Towns would be if Giannis Antetokounmpo became available on the trade market. In fact, Bailey has proposed a trade that could potentially seal an All-Star swap of front-court talent.
The proposed trade looks like this:
New York Knicks Get: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Get: Karl-Anthony Towns, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2030 and 2032 and three second-round picks
“Long before the 2026 trade deadline came and went without a Giannis deal, his desire to be a New York Knick was all over the internet. And for years now, Antetokounmpo has at least teased the possibility that he’d want to play elsewhere (while simultaneously insisting that he’ll never explicitly ask to be traded),” Bailey wrote. “…Losing Karl-Anthony Towns’ shooting is no small thing. That’s a big part of keeping the paint clear for Jalen Brunson’s slashing, but there’s no question this is a raw talent upgrade, even with the age and health questions that come with Giannis.”
Towns is one of the best offensive big men in the NBA. Trading him would certainly be a bold decision. However, if the return is Giannis, who could arguably take the Knicks to the next level, it’s fair to assume New York’s front office would at least consider picking up the phone.
Towns Named Knicks Most Likely To Be Traded
According to Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz, Karl-Anthony Towns is the most likely player on the Knicks roster to find himself on the trade block this summer.
“Anything short of a run to the NBA Finals could result in a major roster shakeup for the New York Knicks. Jalen Brunson will be safe, although Karl-Anthony Towns may not be as lucky,” Swartz wrote. “Towns hasn’t produced at the same efficiency level on offense under new head coach Mike Brown. He’s also the most expensive Knick by far, with $57 million coming next season followed by a $61 million player option in 2027-28.”
Towns, a six-time All-Star, would certainly command a sizeable trade package for New York. Yet, unless the return included a borderline superstar, it’s hard to see the Knicks entertaining trade discussions. That’s why a potential move for Giannis would make sense, at least in terms of involving Towns in the discussion.
The Knicks Are Still Contenders
All the talk of improving the current roster might be premature. After all, the Knicks are still a contending team in the Eastern Conference. They’re a 50-win team, and it feels like they’re still scratching the surface of what they’re capable of doing on the court.
If the Knicks make it to the NBA Finals this season, or potentially win the whole thing, it’s hard to envision the front office making such a big change.
Of course, if New York falls short, a trade will feel inevitable. Whether that deal would involve Towns would remain to be seen.
Adam Taylor is a basketball reporter covering the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Miami Heat for Heavy. He holds bylines for CelticsBlog, USA Today and Yardbarker. Adam also covers the WWE and AEW. He has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Open University. More about Adam Taylor
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