Towns in the City? Knicks Swap Randle for KAT in Trade Idea

Is it time for the New York Knicks to move on from Julius Randle? A hypothetical deal trading the two-time All-Star nets Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

A Wildcat for KAT? That's a hypothetical deal that ESPN proposes in a listing of new trades to kickstart the NBA offseason.

Proposed by Andrew Lopez, this deal would send Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, who would send over Julius Randle, Isaiah Roby, Jericho Sims, and first-round picks in 2024, 2026, and 2028 (the last one being top-five protected).

"For the Knicks, this deal gives them a chance to cash in some of the picks once reserved for a Donovan Mitchell pursuit last summer," ESPN's Lopez writes. "For what the Timberwolves are trying to build, Randle could be a more natural fit at the power forward spot than Towns."

After the 2020-21 playoffs, Knicks fans wondered if power forward Julius Randle's three-year, $63 million contract was worth the price. He had made the NBA All-Star Game, but shot 29.8 percent from the field in the first round of the playoffs, where the Knicks were eliminated by the Atlanta Hawks. 

However, the front office thought it was just a fluke and extended his contract to a 4-year, $117 million deal. Randle wasn't as good in 2021-22, but he still averaged a team-high 20.1 points per game. 

Fortunately for wary Knicks fans, Randle was back to his old self this past season, averaging team highs in points (25) and rebounds (10), and earning a second All-Star Game invite. However, he'd struggle yet again in the playoffs, this time averaging 16.6 points per game on 37.4 percent shooting after missing the final five games of the regular season with an injury.

Randle's inconsistencies in the regular season and playoffs may mean it's time for the Knicks to trade him away.

Minnesota has two All-Star centers on their roster in Towns and Rudy Gobert. The latter was traded from the Utah Jazz last summer in a deal that saw the Timberwolves sacrifice a good number of first-round picks. Both Gobert and Towns both played below their standard last season, but Towns has proved to be the better offensive weapon (averaging seven more points per game), which is an asset the Knicks could use.

The Knicks have a decent number of first-round picks over the next few years, something the Timberwolves should be salivating over, after the Gobert deal.

The offer doesn't end there.

Sims is a versatile defender that can not only protect the paint, but can also help (not lock down) on guards. The second-round pick a freak athlete who recorded a 44.5 inch vertical at the draft combine prior to his selection in 2021. The high-flyer could be a solid backup for Gobert after struggling to generate minutes behind Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein.

The Knicks signed free agent power forward Roby on the final day of the last regular season. Roby played 11 minutes per game with the Spurs in 2022-23 before they waived him but averaged 10.1 points per game the previous year with the Thunder in just over 21. He could be another depth piece in this deal, though the Knikcs would be on the hook for both his and Sims' salaries. 

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