The New York Knicks were little more than 3 weeks away from starting the 2024-25 season and already appeared to be the second-best team in the Eastern Conference when they shocked the NBA world. They make an out-of-nowhere deal for Karl-Anthony Towns.
The move received a mixed response from fans who questioned whether it was worth giving up an all-star and another key rotation player for Towns, who is owed more than $200 million over the next four years. Considering his fit, the Knicks' acquisition of Towns was already questionable, but a report by ESPN's Brian Windhorst leads to more questions about how it will all work.
According to Windhorst, Knicks starting center Mitchell Robinson, who was expected to be out until December, may have an open-ended timetable to make his debut. That would be a huge blow for the Knicks, who don't have a proven backup center on their roster at the moment, which might mean that Towns starts this season at the five.
The latest New York Knicks intel adds a baffling layer to the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.
No one doubts Towns' talent; he is one of the more skilled offensive players in the NBA but he is considered to be a poor defender. So much so that the Timberwolves gave up five first-round picks to be able to pair him with then-three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert.
Putting Towns on the Knicks and possibly having him play center might allow New York to light up the scoreboard but they are sure to be lit up as well. Perhaps there is another move coming with New York being rumored to be interested in acquiring Charlotte's starting center. In that case, the move may make more sense but Towns playing center for long stretches seems like a recipe for disaster.
One could argue that New York playing Randle at center, which was their intention, would be equally as bad but they at least would have had more depth and perimeter defense with Donte DiVincenzo in the second unit.
Ultimately, the move to acquire Towns was a big gamble, more so with the news that Robinson might be out indefinitely. If he is them, the Knicks will need to make another move to add a stopgap big man to ensure that Towns isn't forced to play the five.