Advertisement
The New York Knicks had one of their best seasons in a long time. For the first time in 30 years, they won more than 50 games in back-to-back seasons. They looked strong, with point guard Jalen Brunson playing like a true star and new teammate Karl-Anthony Towns helping him dominate on offence. At their best, they looked unstoppable.
But things didn’t end the way fans hoped. The team lost to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, and it was a tough pill to swallow. That loss led to the firing of head coach Tom Thibodeau, leaving the Knicks without a head coach and with some big decisions to make.
One thing the team really needs is more help off the bench. During the playoffs, they relied heavily on just seven players. That meant a lot of pressure and minutes for Brunson and Towns. Bringing in a reliable scorer who can come off the bench and keep the offence going would help lighten the load.
There’s also been talk about whether this group of players can win it all as they are now. Some think the Knicks might even consider trading Towns, even though he just joined the team. Sports writer Robert Zschoche recently listed him as someone the Knicks could deal this summer.
Towns is an expensive player. He’s set to earn over $53 million next season and $57 million the year after. In 2027-28, he can choose whether to stay and make $61 million or become a free agent.
Trading him so soon would be a bold and risky move. Yes, he isn’t the strongest defender at the rim, but he’s still a major part of what makes the Knicks offence dangerous. Unless the team is getting a true superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo in return, letting go of Towns could actually hurt their chances at winning a title.
In the NBA, having stars is what usually leads to championships. Giving up one of those stars without a clear upgrade could be a step backward. So while the Knicks have made progress, they now face some tough choices about how to move forward.