NBA Rumors: Talk of a Trade Between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Karl-Anthony Towns
One is one game away from winning their first ring, while the Greek star has had 4 challenging seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and could change teams this summer.
Karl-Anthony Towns has become one of the most recurrent names in NBA trade rumors, all while continuing to compete at the highest level in the Finals against Victor Wembanyama, with the New York Knicks leading the series 3-1.
Nevertheless, the future of the center is still generating debate. Towns still has two seasons left on his contract, with an average annual salary of 59 million dollars. In that context, an inevitable question arises: would the Knicks prefer to allocate a similar amount to Giannis Antetokounmpo over the next two years?
The precedent linking Giannis to New York
As journalist Jake Fischer recalled, New York was precisely the destination that Antetokounmpo asked the Milwaukee Bucks to try to trade him to last summer.
The reporter also pointed out that, had that operation materialized, Karl-Anthony Towns would have almost certainly been part of the trade.
The situation is particularly striking because, as Fischer points out, Towns would fit perfectly alongside Giannis from a basketball perspective. His ability to stretch the floor and generate shots as an interior player would make him an ideal partner for the Greek in the paint. However, all indications suggest that this combination is unlikely to materialize.
Milwaukee does not rule out calling the Knicks again
The big question is whether New York would be willing to include Towns in a deal for Antetokounmpo, especially if the player continues to be decisive and the Knicks end up winning the championship.
Fischer doesn't believe Towns will be actively placed on the trade market, but he did reveal that several people have conveyed a specific possibility to him.
"I'm not sitting here thinking Karl-Anthony Towns is going to be on the market," he explained on Tuesday. "But several people have told me today that if Milwaukee were really close to closing a deal to send Giannis to Miami or any other destination, they would call New York again to ask, 'Are you sure you don’t want to include Karl-Anthony Towns in a trade for Giannis?'"
Antetokounmpo's contract, a key factor
Antetokounmpo still has one guaranteed season left on his contract, along with a player option for the following season.
The power forward will earn 58.5 million dollars next season and has an option valued at 62.7 million for the subsequent year.
However, several rival executives operate on the premise that any trade for the Greek star would be subject to a prior agreement to extend his contract with the franchise acquiring him.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: Se habla de un intercambio entre Giannis Antetokounmpo y Karl-Anthony Towns
