NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
What NBA player has not dreamed about playing for the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden 41 games out of a season? While it’s considered the most famous arena in the NBA, all players are not built for that stage. One, in particular, must stay clear of the Garden as his home arena and that’s Karl-Anthony Towns.
While Towns has made a name for himself in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves, rumors are swirling that he could be moved as early as the trade deadline in 2024. And one of the teams at the top of that list is the New York Knicks. On paper, it seems logical but in all fairness, no one wins in this trade but the Timberwolves.
Let’s put the numbers aside. Towns has averaged 23.0 points and 11.1 rebounds in his 9 seasons in the NBA. He’s a true scorer and with Rudy Gobert now manning the paint, Towns has become more of a stretch player if anything. While that’s enticing to the Knicks front office, they’re missing the bigger picture.
Towns is not a good fit with the City and its diehard fans. Minnesota is one thing. While still considered a sports hub, there is no place quite like NYC and its media. It’s the Knicks fans then the media. I still have no idea which one causes more pain to a player.
Over the years, one could argue that Towns has not been as welcoming to the media as he should. If that’s the case, how in the world is he equipped to handle what he will face in NYC? They are relentless and will hound you until you either surrender or win them a title. It doesn’t matter who you are, they will love you on a Monday and then crucify you on a Tuesday.
Towns, while born in New Jersey should have the backbone for this but he’s not tough enough. He’s not physically imposing on the court and off the court, he’s quiet. That’s not going to fly here. If he’s traded away for Julius Randle, picks, and another player, these fans and members of the media will expect a championship. If he can’t bring that home, the onslaught will begin.
Should The New York Knicks Trade For Karl Anthony-Towns
Look at the history, it’s been like that with all the star players who have worn the New York Knicks uniform. Patrick Ewing wasn’t exempt. Neither were Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. The same now goes for Randle and RJ Barrett. And the moment he begins to struggle in the playoffs, they will turn on Jalen Brunson.
The New York Knicks faithful are hungry for a championship and rightfully so. However, adding Karl-Anthony Towns will not be the answer. He’s had his moments with the Timberwolves but dealing him for players and picks will deplete this team and rob them of a future.
Getting Towns will not be cheap. Randle will more than likely be included in a deal and so will Mitchell Robinson. The issue with treading away Robinson is that he’s the Knicks best-post defender. Playing defense has never been a strong suit for towns. An offense built around Brunson, Barrett, and Towns looks good on paper, but the wins won’t come as easy as the front office would like to think.
At the end of the day, what’s the difference between Randle and Towns? They share the same skill set except that Randle is better at putting the ball on the floor and creating shots for himself and others. Towns is a slightly better post defender due to his time spent on the blocks but Randle is more athletic. However, with the Knicks, Towns will be asked to move back in the paint. He will no longer have the defensive help that he now has with Gobert.
What this decision should boil down to is fit. Does he fit with not only the team but the New York Knicks culture? Not everyone can survive here. And by everything we’ve seen and know about him, KAT is not ready for NYC.
