The New York Knicks are looking forward to next season after reestablishing themselves as a playoff contender.
However, the Knicks are cautious about assuming their status is secure. Jalen Brunson appears to be worth every penny of his contract, but he will be 28 years old when the season starts. Co-star Julius Randle is somewhat of an outlier in their Villanova-heavy rotation, and their center lineup has been disrupted by Isaiah Hartenstein.
While trades aren’t always the solution to a team’s problems, there is at least one deal the Knicks should be considering.
Big KAT Heads to the Big Apple
If the Knicks acquire Towns, many fans might criticize the move, citing his injury history, inconsistent defense, and hefty contract.
However, Towns is a four-time All-Star with impressive career averages of 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. At 7 feet tall and 248 pounds, he’s a true stretch big, shooting 39.8 percent from 3-point range. In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, he showcased his underrated defensive skills, demonstrating excellent footwork, anticipation, and activity when focused.
Some Knicks fans might view Towns as a key to future championships. The reality likely lies between his reputation and his statistics.
On the Knicks, Towns’ presence in the paint would create opportunities for spot-up shooters like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. His passing and touch would enable him to find cutters like Josh Hart from mid- and high-post positions. His perimeter shooting would provide space for players like Brunson to drive. Defensively, Towns’ length could be a significant asset, especially under Tom Thibodeau’s guidance, which might unlock his full potential.
Trading for Towns also avoids any awkwardness for Julius Randle regarding playing time. Towns would essentially fill the roles of both Randle and Robinson, allowing New York to start either Hart or Donte DiVincenzo alongside Brunson, Towns, Bridges, and Anunoby, thereby maximizing their chemistry and defense.
Randle’s Rack Attack, Duren’s Dominance
With Randle and Duren heading to the Minnesota Timberwolves, two significant issues are addressed: Anthony Edwards gains a more aggressive scorer to complement him, and the Timberwolves now have a dynamic center to back up Rudy Gobert. These were major obstacles for Minnesota in their quest to reach the NBA Finals last postseason.
Over the past two years, Randle has averaged 24.7 points per game on 46.4 percent shooting from the field, whereas Towns has averaged 18.9 points per game in the same span.
Like Towns, Randle aggressively attacks defenses, and his partnership with Edwards could be very effective. Although Randle isn’t as prolific from 3-point range as Towns, he still poses a threat from beyond the arc, having hit 37.4 percent of his career corner 3-pointers.
Duren has the opportunity to learn a lot about rim protection from Gobert, though Gobert, despite being a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, lacks the physical gifts that Duren possesses, such as his ability to switch onto smaller players with ease.
The advantage of this acquisition is that Duren and Gobert’s timelines align well. Gobert is 32 years old with a player option for next season, while Duren is just 20, with a team option for the next season. If the Timberwolves extend a qualifying offer, Duren will become a restricted free agent.
Pistons’ Fast-Tracked Rebuild
The Pistons continue to develop their young core, including Duren, Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, and Ron Holland. Ideally, if two or three of these players can consistently make 3-pointers, they could form a strong starting lineup together.
However, Pistons president Trajan Langdon is keen on speeding up the team’s rebuild. He has brought in veterans like Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley, who address some of the core’s weaknesses. If Detroit can trade Duren for Robinson, they’d acquire the rim-protector they need. Robinson, who just turned 26 in April, is young enough to develop alongside their core and will be entering his prime as the team begins to peak.
