Why Knicks could make $61 million trade decision on Karl-Anthony Towns originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It’s no secret that Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks were unable to agree to a contract extension before the season began.
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Towns feels he deserves a max contract because of his contributions in bringing a title to New York.
The Knicks reportedly offered him a four-year, $200 million extension, which the six-time All-Star declined.
Towns is eligible for a four-year, $276 million contract, so he’d be leaving a lot of money on the table if he accepted New York’s initial offer.
He’s also one of the Knicks’ top trade assets, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes wrote.
“Karl-Anthony Towns is the answer to ‘which one of these doesn’t belong’ on New York’s asset list, but the lack of a preseason extension and the sheer size of his contract make him a worthwhile inclusion.
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“The Wolves dealt him to New York for two smaller contracts to increase flexibility and avoid paying him; maybe the Knicks will eventually choose to do the same,” Hughes wrote.
The Knicks may decide they’d rather not pay Towns the contract he is asking for and attempt to send him elsewhere while his value is still high.
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Towns can be a frustrating player to watch when he can’t seem to stay out of foul trouble, but he’s averaging 20.3 points and 13.9 rebounds per game across seven contests.
“Perhaps it seems like nobody would want KAT and the looming specter of his $61 million player option for 2027-28, but if New York offered Towns to the Warriors for Jimmy Butler and a pick, the Dubs would very likely pull the trigger,” Hughes added.
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A Towns-Butler trade is just one example of how the Knicks could approach the big man’s trade situation, but a deal of that nature would only happen if contract negotiations get really ugly.
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