Karl-Anthony Towns' overlooked skill has the Knicks firing on all cylinders

Now that the dust has settled from one of the more controversial trades in recent NBA history, the New York Knicks appear to be better for it. They acquired Karl Anthony-Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves and have, at times, looked dominant with Towns adding more facets to their offense.

In addition to being one of the best big-man shooters in NBA history, Towns is also one of the better passers too. That underrated feature of his game makes him all the more dangerous as an offensive player, and the Knicks have been reaping the benefits of both aspects of his game all season long.

They currently rank third in the NBA in offensive rating, after ranking seventh last season. Although they still have improvements to make on the defensive end, partially due to Town's presence, it's hard to say that they aren't winning the trade thus far.

Karl-Anthony Towns' passing and shooting ability has the Knicks firing on all cylinders.

Having him play center gives the Knicks almost unfair spacing, with Towns being an elite shooter. He can also score down low or serve as a passing hub for cutters. Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau likely knew that when Towns was brought in to replace Julius Randle. 

Randle, despite his offensive skill, was a ball stopper, whereas Towns can help to create offense for others. That is an underrated factor when comparing the two players, with Randle seemingly having better individual numbers even though teams with Towns tend to have better offenses. That is the case with the Knicks this season and not so much with the Timberwolves.

With the Knicks having a high-octane offense, that bodes well for their playoff hopes, while their defense could be a problem. With Towns playing the five, it gives teams a place to attack on defense. That is an interesting trade-off with the Knicks potentially having to eventually decide between playing Town at the five and dominating on offense. 

Or, they could slide him down to power forward when Mitchell Robinson returns. That could shore up their defense, allowing them to improve significantly on that end of the floor, even though it could force them to take a step back on the offensive end. 

There is a third option with the Knicks employing different starting lineups depending on the matchup. That may be especially useful in the playoffs with them being able to decide between Towns at the five or him at the four. Either way, Towns' offensive skill as a shooter and as a passer makes him a uniquely talented player for the Knicks.