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The New York Knicks are chasing their first NBA championship in more than 50 years, and expectations are sky-high after a deep playoff run. But as they continue building toward a title, experts are warning the team to avoid making a major mistake, trading away Karl-Anthony Towns.
Under Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Though they fell short to the Indiana Pacers, the run was one of the franchise’s best in decades. Now, with Mike Brown taking over as head coach and several quiet offseason additions like Guerschon Yabusele, the team is looking to take the next step.
But questions remain about whether this core can win it all. That’s led to rumours about a possible trade for LeBron James — something that could make New York instant contenders. The most common trade idea involves sending Towns to the Lakers in exchange for the four-time MVP.
However, Empire Sports Media’s Alexander Wilson believes dealing with Towns would be a huge mistake. Towns is coming off one of the best seasons of his career and has established himself as a top 15 player in the league. He’s also starting to find his rhythm in New York and is expected to be even more effective in his second season with the team. Plus, the Knicks have added valuable depth around him.
Even though a LeBron trade would create buzz and raise the team’s ceiling, sticking with a group that came within two games of the NBA Finals might be the smarter path. The Knicks have momentum, chemistry, and a rising star in Towns, and breaking that up could backfire when the margin for error is so small.