Report: Knicks Have Never Engaged In Serious Trade Negotiations For Karl-Anthony Towns

According to NBA insider Fred Katz of The Athletic, the New York Knicks have never engaged in serious trade negotiations for Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns. 

“The Knicks have always had an eye on Towns, though this front office has never engaged in serious trade negotiations for him, according to league sources,” Katz wrote. “He’s a CAA client, one of the most-skilled offensive bigs ever to touch a basketball and though he had a complicated relationship with Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau back when Thibodeau coached him in Minnesota, there are people around the coach who believe the two have reconciled and would work well together now (though you never know until you see it in person).”

Towns averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks this season while shooting 50.4% from the field, 41.6% from beyond the arc and 87.3% from the free-throw line. 

The Timberwolves lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals, while the Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round. 

New York president Leon Rose used to be Towns’ agent when he ran CAA. Towns was born and raised in Edison, New Jersey.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who is expected to sign an extension this offseason, coached Towns on the Timberwolves. 

A four-time All-Star, Towns has career averages of 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.3 blocks. He was the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of Kentucky. 

Towns, who has made two All-NBA teams, signed a four-year, $221 million extension in July 2022. KAT will make $49.4 million next season. 

Towns and Anthony Edwards have massive extensions kicking in next season and Rudy Gobert is slated to make max money as well.

Towns or Gobert have to be traded for the Timberwolves to avoid paying a huge luxury tax bill under the new CBA.

The Knicks are targeting this offseason as the time to make the trade for the next star, per Katz.