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The New York Knicks are in need of a roster shakeup. The franchise did not exactly enter the 2019-20 season with high hopes, though after adding established veterans such as Taj Gibson, Marcus Morris Sr., and Julius Randle in free agency, improvement seemed to be a feasible goal in The Big Apple.
Unfortunately, it has not turned out that way for the blue and orange, who once again find themselves among the bottom of the NBA standings with a poor 9-24 record. Do not let their two wins in a row against a depleted Brooklyn Nets roster and a Washington Wizards squad that is awful defensively blind the reality that New York is a team comprised of talent that simply cannot produce wins on a consistent basis.
There is no quicker way to return to relevancy in the NBA than to make a blockbuster trade for a superstar, and as of now the best option on the table seems to be a center from the Minnesota Timberwolves by the name of Karl-Anthony Towns; recent reports suggest league executives believe he is unhappy in The Twin Cities because of their recent 11-game skid.
Couple that with Marc Berman of The New York Post mentioning New York will “monitor” Towns' situation in Minnesota, and it is worth taking a look at some of the trade packages the Knicks could offer in exchange for the reportedly disgruntled star.
Trade 1
Timberwolves receive: Bobby Portis, Wayne Ellington, Alonzo Trier, Mitchell Robinson, and unprotected 2021 1st round pick (DAL)
Knicks receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
Giving up Trier and Robinson may be difficult for some fans to stomach, but in order to acquire a hooper of Towns' caliber, assets must be sacrificed. Trier has fallen out of New York's rotation, playing 12.8 minutes per game in just 16 appearances this season, but many are unsure of the reason for his relegation. He possesses the ability to create his own shot, and he is a career 39.6 percent shooter from distance.
Despite Trier's scoring potential, Robinson is undoubtedly the most significant loss for the Knicks in this scenario because the Mavericks' pick in 2021 is almost certain to fall outside of the lottery assuming Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis remain on the roster.
The second-year big has showcased tremendous defensive potential thanks to his unique length and reach along with his innate ability to block shots, as he is rejecting 2.3 per contest for his career in just 21.2 minutes. With Robinson's departure, Towns can slide to the five seamlessly without him or the Knicks having to worry about taking away the opportunity for younger players to develop and improve.
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New York would not likely be a postseason contender right away with Towns in the fold, but they would certainly be a better team instantly and well-positioned to improve in the future after dumping the contracts of Portis and Ellington.
Trade 2
Timberwolves receive: Marcus Morris Sr., Taj Gibson, 2020 selections 1-3 protected 1st round pick (NYK), and unprotected 2021 1st round pick (DAL)
Knicks receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
This scenario revolves around the idea that New York decided to give up future assets as opposed to parting with members of their young core. Considering that finishing with one of the worst records in basketball does not at all guarantee a top pick in the draft thanks to the revamped lottery odds, this may not a bad option for the Knicks to consider.
They currently own the third-worst record in the NBA, meaning they are deadlocked with both the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors for best odds at landing the first overall pick if the season ended today (14 percent). Eight teams are rewarded with over five percent odds at the number one pick, meaning to say it is up in the air as to where the Knicks would land in the lottery is an understatement.
Maybe most importantly, even if New York lucked out and found themselves owning a top-three pick, they would be able to hold onto it thanks to the protection in this example.
The Knicks would subsequently have to give up their 2021 unprotected first-round pick if that were to happen, but it would be well worth it if they could pair yet another exciting prospect with Karl-Anthony Towns to help this misfortuned organization return to its winning ways.
