'Patient' Knicks 'Had No Interest' In Trading For Timberwolves' Towns

Though NBA offseason gossip has linked them to the Minnesota Timberwolves' All-Star, the New York Knicks reportedly did not pursue a Karl-Anthony Towns trade.

Would KAT play for the NYK? Fred Katz of The Athletic put a big X on the concept in his latest report. 

In addressing the New York Knicks' continued "patience" throughout the NBA offseason, an aura that has mostly seen them watch the movings and dealings from afar, Katz debunked the idea of the team expressing interest in Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns. While NBA offseason gossip has linked the two sides thanks to shared history with New York personnel, the idea was reportedly never truly on the table.

There are the Karl-Anthony Towns rumors that fling around, if only because they are easy," Katz wrote. "Towns is a CAA client and was once represented by (Knicks president Leon) Rose, himself, back when Rose ran CAA’s basketball division. We know the deal by now: the Knicks go after the CAA guys. They did it with Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein and Josh Hart and when they drafted Obi Toppin. They extended Julius Randle. They targeted Mitchell. So people project every CAA client onto them.

"But it’s not like the Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to tear their team down," he continued. "According to league sources who have talked business with them, the Wolves have set a sky-high price on Towns, too. (Also), according to another league source, in spite of what the constant speculation may tell you, the Knicks have not expressed any interest in trading for Towns."

In addition to working with Rose, Towns has also collaborated with Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who oversaw some of his first NBA excursions during a three-year term with the Timberwolves (2016-19). Alas for the nostalgic, don't expect a reunion.

Previous reports indicated that the Knicks were interested in acquiring Towns but found his massive salary "too onerous." Playing on the final year of a five-season contract before a $224 million extension kicks in, Towns' 2023-24 cap hit carries over $36 million. Another report said that Towns and the Knicks were "intertwined" and his transfer to Manhattan was a matter of "when ... not if." 

But it stands to reason that Minnesota, fresh off a five-game loss to the eventual NBA champions from Denver, will require something hefty if they tear down their latest, expensive renovation project, one that situated Towns next to former Utah defensive star Rudy Gobert. The collaboration, which also includes Anthony Edwards, produced disappointing results in its debut year, as the Timberwolves (42-40) needed the Western Conference Play-In Tournament to sneak into the playoffs.

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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