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Knicks trade rumors: New York is ‘monitoring’ Karl-Anthony Towns

By Rob Wolkenbrod

DALLAS, TEXAS - DECEMBER 04: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at American Airlines Center on December 04, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - DECEMBER 04: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at American Airlines Center on December 04, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks are reportedly monitoring Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns in the trade market.

‘Tis the season for gifts, spending time with family, and New York Knicks trade rumors involving superstars. The latter became the case on Christmas Day, per Marc Berman of the New York Post, with a report of the Knicks planning to “monitor” the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns on the trade market.

Berman noted that Towns grew up in New Jersey and was a childhood Knicks fan.

Towns signed a max contract with Minnesota during the summer, but new money has not deterred NBA players from seeking a move in recent months, including Paul George’s one-year-old deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Perhaps that makes a potential trade likelier in the player-power era.

For the Knicks, it’s the revolving door of superstars being linked to the team. There was the season-long saga of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last year, both of which resulted in nothing. Kawhi Leonard, with sporadic rumors of him in New York, also did not join the Knicks. The list dates back even further.

The team had a budding star in Kristaps Porzingis, who was traded in January in a deal that now looks poor for the Knicks. They were unable to turn that freed cap space into stars, so after continued strikeouts in free agency, a trade might be their best hope.

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To acquire someone of Towns’ caliber, though, the price won’t be cheap. The Knicks have a young center in Mitchell Robinson, who has flashed his athletic and defensive greatness since October 2018. A frontcourt of him and Towns could work, especially as the latter man can stretch the floor, but it’s also easy to think that Minnesota asks for a package centered around the second-year center.

That package doesn’t stop there, either. The Knicks have Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr., who was recently linked to the Timberwolves, for a potential trade. 2021 and 2023 first-round picks from Dallas are also in their arsenal, and the Knicks own each of their own first-rounders in future drafts. So they have some assets, but plenty of them will have to go for a young, talented center who averages 26.5 points and 11.7 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

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Towns is just the latest name in the New York Knicks’ big game hunting. Recent history is against them, and there is nothing (yet) that points to Minnesota shopping its star player. Trade winds always blow in the NBA, though, so something could arise at any point in the volatile market.

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