The countdown to the start of the new NBA season continues, but not without some late-night drama to shake things up.
The New York Knicks completed a blockbuster deal to bring four-time All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns into the mix. New York shipped off former All-Star Julius Randle and sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It certainly turned out to be a shocking, mostly unexpected move for both teams. Without a doubt, there’s plenty to unpack behind the trade.
For this piece, the focus remains on the Knicks. What does Towns bring to the table? Why did New York choose to invest in bringing in KAT? How much did the Knicks lose and how did their personnel change? What does the Towns’ trade all mean for New York’s outlook in 2024-25?
Let’s break it all down.
Deconstructing the deal
First, bringing in Towns fits within the larger context of New York going on the aggressive to capitalize on Jalen Brunson‘s rise to superstardom last year.
This aggression has been on full display since February: acquiring (and re-signing) OG Anunoby at the trade deadline, completing the Mikal Bridges deal in the offseason, and now the KAT trade. While everyone thought the ‘Nova Knicks’ were here to stay, Leon Rose fully cemented the Knicks in “win now” mode.
The Knicks desperately needed someone at the five. New York lost starter Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency to Oklahoma City. Another possible starter, Mitchell Robinson, reportedly would be out until the winter due to delayed recovery from ankle surgery. Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa were the lone true centers remaining.
For New York, the center spot remained unstable. It would be risky waiting for Robinson to be fully back. Even then, anything could happen.
On the flip side, what to do with Julius Randle also remained a looming question mark for the team. Randle emerged as an All-Star three of the past four years. However, inconsistent outside shooting (34.6% on 6.2 attempts per game the past four seasons), shaky defense (he’s a tweener between a four and five), and playoff struggles made him an uneasy fit with the wings on this roster. Also looming: Randle had a player option after this year, and contract extension talks between both parties stalled.
Towns remains under contract for at least three more years. Brunson and Anunoby are on new deals as well. Bridges’ contract goes for two more years. New York has its core for the immediate. Now, it’s about capitalizing while the title window is still cracked open.
As for the losses, extending Randle entering his thirties was a risk. However, DiVincenzo’s departure is tough. He finished second in points (15.5 PPG) of all players on the team who played north of 60 games. He shot 40% from three on nearly nine attempts per game.
KAT brings elite shooting to the table, but a guard doing so is different than a center.
What KAT brings to the table
Outside of filling an obvious need at the five, KAT’s three strengths include:
- Reliable, efficient scoring – career 22.9 PPG; averaged 21.9 PPG in 2023-24; shot 50% from the field and 42% from three last year; less pressure for Brunson to need to average 28.7 PPG, like he did this past season
- Offensive diversity – the Knicks never used five-out spacing, but Towns certainly changes that as a three-level scorer who can be dominant in the paint or on the perimeter
- Productive, but not ball-dominant – Towns last season got his field goals off of assists nearly 74% of the time, according to NBA.com stats.
Additionally, Towns just adapted to playing next to Rudy Gobert for two years in Minnesota. Playing him alongside Robinson doesn’t feel too far out of left field. For the Knicks, a future lineup of Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Towns, and Robinson could be downright scary. For now, Towns eats up plenty of minutes at the center spot.
Immediately, Towns takes the scoring burden off New York’s other top options. He’s also under a long-term contract. The Knicks made the assessment he would be the best option available going forward.
For now, only two concerns immediately stand out. First, Towns’ health. He played 29 games two years ago and 62 this past season. An injury popping up wouldn’t be unrealistic considering his track record. Then, there’s Towns’ own questionable playoff struggles. He is a career 46.8% shooter in the postseason, compared to 52.4% in the regular season. His regular season average of 22.9 PPG drops down for his career to 18.8 PPG in the postseason.
Where do the Knicks go from here?
The Knicks sit firmly in the hunt for making the NBA Finals in 2024-25. Last year, New York (50-32) won its most games in over a decade (2012-13), beat Philly, and could’ve beat Indiana had injuries not taken their toll. Now, most of the core is back with Towns and Bridges coming in as new additions.
The optimism is manifesting in more ways than one.
New York boasts the second-best odds (behind Boston) to win the Eastern Conference, according to ESPN BET. The Knicks sit tied for third (with the Sixers) for the highest 2024-25 title odds (+750) in the league on ESPN BET, trailing just Boston and Oklahoma City. Likewise, all the other major betting markets currently have the Knicks as the third favorite right now.
So, what does this deal mean in the grand scheme of things? New York is capitalizing on last year’s success, doubled down with this move-heavy offseason, and now feels primed to strike while the iron is hot. Boston remains the current clear favorite in the league, but the rest of the league feels as open as ever. The Knicks took a gamble with Towns, declaring their title window is here and it’s now.
Like all gambles, we’ll have to wait and see if it pays off.
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