Multiple reports continue to link Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks

The Knicks have long been rumored to be interested in the New Jersey native

It's a bird. It's a plane. It's yet another Karl-Anthony Towns/New York Knicks trade rumor.

Speaking on Tuesday's edition of the Run It Back show, The Athletic's Shams Charania said the Knicks are "always going to have interest in Karl-Anthony Towns."

Back in July, SNY's Ian Begley reported the Wolves were in talks about trading KAT ahead of the draft and that "the Knicks could have gone there as well and they clearly have decided not to go there at this point." And following Charania's report Tuesday, Begley wrote that the Knicks still have interest in Towns. 

"That’s true today, just as it was true on the day Knicks team president Leon Rose took over," Begley wrote before suggesting "the Timberwolves won’t be trading Towns this season."

Minnesota could see how far the current roster can go this season and then trade Towns or another player on a large contract, perhaps Rudy Gobert but probably not young cornerstones Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, over the summer. 

"[Knicks] always going to have interest in Karl Anthony-Towns but nothing has materialized as of yet"👀

- @ShamsCharania

[via @RunItBackFDTV ] pic.twitter.com/sCXTqy33Oq

— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BASKETBALLonX) January 2, 2024

After signing Edwards to a max deal this past summer, Minnesota has three players on max contracts. New deals for young stars like McDaniels and Naz Reid have placed the Wolves well above where many think ownership is willing to spend long term.

It might be true that Minnesota has no interest in breaking up a team that is off to a Western Conference-leading 24-8 record, but rumors could still pop with the Feb. 8 trade deadline fast approaching. 

Towns being a New Jersey native, along with former Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau currently coaching the Knicks and ex-Wolves president Gersson Rosas in the Knicks front office, are just a few dots to connect between the Wolves and New York. 

Next up for the Wolves is a Wednesday home game against the 19-14 New Orleans Pelicans. Tipoff is set for 7:10 p.m. CT. 

Jan 1, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) looks to drive past New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) in the first quarter at Madison Square Garden / Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports