New York Knicks: Why There's Hope For a Karl-Anthony Towns Trade

Could the New York Knicks find themselves pursuing Karl-Anthony Towns before the trade deadline?

The New York Knicks have made themselves contenders in the NBA's Eastern Conference. But after the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics respectively traded for Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, it's become apparent that they need to add another star to linger among the legitimate contenders. 

A list of trade predictions from Bleacher Report hints that Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns is the star the Knicks are looking for, especially considering his connections to the New York front office.

"The Timberwolves weren't great last season (42 wins) and may not be great again with the same nucleus still intact," Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley notes. "They also need to replenish their asset collection after coughing up an absurd amount for Rudy Gobert last summer. 

"The Knicks could have a chance to make their sales pitch for Towns, a former client of team president Leon Rose. It's too early to tell if the Timberwolves will be receptive to that offer, but communication will be had."

Towns (32) has averaged 23 points a game in Minnesota / Brad Penner, USA TODAY SPORTS

New York's center rotation currently consists of Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein with Jericho Sims emptying the bench.

Towns has been with the Timberwolves since they drafted him with the first overall pick in 2015. While he has three All-Star appearances in nine seasons, Minnesota has had very little team success in that span, making the playoffs three times and never advancing past the first round. Last season, the 27-year-old big man only played in 29 games due to injury and averaged a career-low 8.1 rebounds in addition to 20.8 points, his worst output since his rookie year.

He recently signed a four-year, $224 million contract extension that kicks in next season, With the Timberwolves already paying Gobert and Anthony Edwards, Towns' time in Minnesota could be coming to an end. 

The Knicks (1-2) face Towns and the Timberwolves on Nov. 20 at Target Center. In the meantime, New York wraps up a three-game road trip on Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG/TNT).