Knicks Trade Rumors: Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle?
The New York Knicks are set to make some type of splash this offseason on the trade market.
With several stars on the brink of leaving their current cities, the Knicks provide a potential solution for some of them, including Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns.
Bleacher Report suggests that the Wolves could trade Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 first-round pick.
"Adding a star of Towns' magnitude to a core of Brunson, R.J. Barrett, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, and Quentin Grimes would help push New York to the top of the conference, as the 27-year-old has lifetime averages of 23.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 blocks and a 39.5 percent mark from three," Bleacher Report writes.
Trading Towns will cost the Knicks a pretty penny, but it could be worth it in the long run. He would give New York another layer on offense that would force teams to defend the Knicks differently. Combining his skillset with Jalen Brunson would cause fits for opposing defenses.
It would be hard for the Knicks to part ways with Quickley, but given the fact that he's set to test restricted free agency at the end of next season, New York would be smart to move off of his contract and get something for it than to have him walk away for nothing. Given the fact the team has Brunson at such a large salary, it's hard to see the Knicks match an offer for Quickley in the summer of 2024.
Randle is an anomaly, considering how well he performed during the regular season and his underwhelming playoffs. That being said, in order to acquire Towns, Randle is the best player the Knicks can afford to trade in return.
The deal makes sense for the Wolves, as Randle provides a better fit for Rudy Gobert than Towns, and it gives Minnesota a point guard to work with in Quickley.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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