On the surface, trading a potential duo like Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson for Karl-Anthony Towns might seem beneficial for New York, as Towns combines their skill sets. However, his contract could be a significant burden for the Knicks in the future.
Towns, a two-time All-NBA third-team honoree, is set to earn $49.2 million in 2024-25, with annual increases of about $4 million until 2027-28, when he will make a staggering $61.01 million. Despite being one of the league’s highest-paid players, Towns demonstrated maturity and poise last season by taking a step back for Anthony Edwards, which positively impacted the Timberwolves’ regular season and playoff performance.
Knicks president Leon Rose must decide if Towns is worth such a substantial investment. The Dominican-American big man will be 29 years old next season, and by the time his contract ends, he will be 32. Players typically don’t continue to improve beyond the age of 32.
