NBA Rumors: The Knicks' Problem with Karl-Anthony Towns and Possible Signings

With the arrival of autumn, the NBA rumor market also begins to gain momentum. In New York, the Knicks are facing a particularly delicate situation with Karl-Anthony Towns, after negotiations to extend the center's contract have progressed very little as the start of training camp approaches.

ESPN, New York Post, The Athletic, and SNY reported on Wednesday about the difficulties in reaching an agreement with the star. Shams Charania also reported that negotiations between the Knicks, the reigning champions, and Towns have stalled.

The situation does not necessarily mean that New York is going to trade Towns in the coming weeks. The player is guaranteed this season for 57 million dollars and has a player option of 61 million for next season. However, it could force the Knicks to decide which of their high-paid starters ends up being put on the market.

An extension that threatens to take the Knicks to the second apron

Towns can sign an extension for 272 million dollars over four years. If he demands the maximum and the Knicks grant it, the franchise would move towards the second apron, a situation that owner James Dolan has already stated he wants to avoid.

In that scenario, a trade would be the only way out.

However, the Knicks still have some room to wait. The franchise has until next summer to extend Towns' contract and could try to delay the decision.

After this season, New York will have approximately 131 million dollars committed in contracts for six players: OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, and Mo Diawara. This would leave around 100 million for the other eight players under the second apron, projected at 236 million for the 2027-28 season.

The two players with contract options would be Towns, with a player option of 61 million, and Josh Hart, with a team option of 22 million.

If the Knicks added four players on minimum contracts, they would have approximately 90 million for Towns and Hart in the first year of their respective deals. This formula would allow New York to balance its books for the 2027-28 season.

The problem would shift to the summer of 2028

The downside is that a significant portion of the roster would consist of players on minimum contracts. Furthermore, the Knicks would later have to deal with the potential huge contract of Jalen Brunson for the 2028-29 season.

Brunson agreed to take a lower salary in his last contract, but he is not expected to do so again. Therefore, unless Towns agrees to a significant reduction from the maximum, the team currently held by the Knicks could cease to exist in the summer of 2028.

Towns remains the most complicated piece to move

The Knicks do not necessarily have to make these moves now, but history shows that getting ahead of trade situations that seem inevitable can help secure a better return.

If Towns does not yield in his demands, New York will have to pay him. There is a possibility he could be traded, although it is considered unlikely because his performance in the playoffs demonstrated that he is too important to the team.

In that case, the Knicks would have to look for savings in another move.

Jalen Brunson is not expected to leave, while the case of Josh Hart is more complicated because he is an important piece in the locker room. Still, he could be traded. Hart will earn 21 million this season and has a team option of 22 million for the next. The Knicks may not extend his contract, exercise that option next summer, and trade him in 2027.

Anunoby and Bridges emerge as alternatives

OG Anunoby would be the big prize if the Knicks decided to put him on the market. He has three years and $135 million left on his contract, with a player option in the third year, and he just had a high-level performance on both ends of the court during the last season.

New York does not want to part with Anunoby, but trading him would provide the easiest way to avoid the second apron while also acquiring truly usable assets.

The other possibility is Mikal Bridges. All summer long, it has been suggested that trading him could be the best option for the Knicks. However, his contractual situation complicates the deal: this year a four-year, $150 million extension goes into effect.

Bridges was inconsistent last season and has just turned 30. There is a possibility that his performance will continue to decline, and teams are aware of this. Furthermore, after the Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire him, the franchise may struggle to recoup even one in a trade.

Therefore, the scenario could end up with the Knicks receiving a small package in exchange for Bridges or a major package for Anunoby. In any case, something will have to change, and the question is when that moment will arrive.

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The point guards also appearing on the market

Among the names that could be available is Kyrie Irving from the Dallas Mavericks. He has two years and 82 million dollars left, with a player option in the second year. There is nothing imminent regarding a potential trade, nor have active conversations occurred to move him.

Irving is coming off a recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The idea, as is the case with other veterans, would be to keep him on the court until January, increase his value, and see if any feasible operation exists before the trade deadline. Dallas won't be afraid to keep him, even though they are shaping the roster around young players.

Darius Garland from the Los Angeles Clippers has two years and 87 million dollars remaining. The Clippers are still absorbing the penalty of five first-round draft picks stemming from the Aspiration scandal and Kawhi Leonard. It is still unclear what direction the franchise will take or what the consequences will be of the suspensions of their owner and general manager.

Accumulating draft picks and salary cap space would be a good strategy for the team. Garland is the only player on the roster who could potentially justify a package of two first-round picks, although his injury history poses an obstacle.

Dejounte Murray from the New Orleans Pelicans has two years and 63 million dollars left, with a player option. Teams will want to check his status now that he should be fully recovered from his Achilles tendon injury, but he is expected to be a candidate to be traded as the trade deadline approaches.

Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets has three years and 161 million dollars remaining on his contract. A trade doesn’t seem likely at this point, but Denver's financial situation is complicated. The scenario might end up resembling that of Jaylen Brown. The Nuggets can continue making adjustments, although Nikola Jokic's contract situation may force them to make a drastic move.

Mikal Bridges also appears among the candidates, with four years and 150 million dollars left. A trade would allow the Knicks to gain flexibility for the future, though the franchise seems determined to keep the team below the second apron for as long as possible. At some point, however, there will be a breaking point.

Ty Jerome of the Memphis Grizzlies has two years and 19 million dollars remaining, including a player option. He took advantage of the chaos in Memphis last season to average 19.7 points, with a 42% from three-point range. The Grizzlies need to trim their roster, and the 29-year-old player doesn't really fit into it.

Jerome could have good value if Memphis decides to turn him into future assets, although the Grizzlies don’t have many alternatives at the point guard position either.

Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic has four years and 115 million dollars left, with a team option. In his five seasons in the NBA, he has only had one good year as a point guard capable of contributing on both ends of the floor and scoring from three. In 2023-24, he averaged 12.6 points and 39.7% from three.

The rest of his seasons have been marked by performance issues and injuries. For Orlando, the problem is that his only good campaign came precisely when he was negotiating his extension. Possible trades for Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner are not ruled out, but they would only be considered if the season really takes a turn for the worse.

Dalton Knecht, from the Los Angeles Lakers, has two years and 10 million dollars remaining, including two team options. He showed potential as a rookie, but his performance dropped in his second season and he could now serve as a piece to match salaries in a possible trade. It has been surprising that no team has wanted to bet on his potential, as he is only 25 years old.

Jaden Hardy, also from the Lakers, has one year and six million dollars remaining. The Lakers need to part ways with a player, and Hardy is a candidate if they find a team willing to take him on.

In addition, Bill Simmons suggested that the Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs should consider a trade that would send Darius Garland to San Antonio in exchange for De'Aaron Fox's contract and draft picks.

The perimeter players are also in the mix

Among the forwards, Josh Hart appears as a possibility for the Knicks. He has two years and 43 million dollars left, with a team option. Someone will have to leave New York, and Hart wouldn't be the preferred option, but he is a viable alternative.

Brandon Ingram, between the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers, has two years and 82 million dollars remaining, with a player option. The Clippers should try to accumulate draft picks, and parting ways with Ingram next summer could allow them to obtain one. However, the player underwent foot surgery during the offseason, and it remains to be seen how that will affect him.

Moses Moody of the Golden State Warriors has two years and 26 million dollars remaining. He could be ready for the start of the season and is expected to remain with the team. However, if Golden State makes any trades this summer, rumors suggest that Moody could be involved.

Trey Murphy of the Pelicans has three years and 88 million dollars remaining. Rumors have emerged indicating that New Orleans could trade him, but there have also been reports indicating the opposite. Murphy continues to be a common name in trade rumors, although the Pelicans are taking their time with any potential transactions.

Saddiq Bey, also from New Orleans, has one year and 6.5 million dollars remaining. He returned with a strong season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, averaging 17.7 points, with a 45.1% field goal percentage and 36.7% three-point percentage. These figures were achieved on a struggling team, but he has shown that he can still be a capable outside player off the bench.

Patrick Williams of the Chicago Bulls has three years and 54 million dollars remaining. For fans, it could be symbolic and probably cathartic to see him leave the team with the arrival of a new front office and coaching staff. However, his contract poses an obstacle.

Michael Porter Jr., of the Brooklyn Nets, has one year and 40 million dollars remaining, with partial guarantees. If talks to extend his contract do not reactivate, he will be one of the main focal points of the market throughout the winter. Negotiations seem to be stalled.

Porter is a player on the brink of being an All-Star and intends to be paid as such. If the Nets are not willing to go that far with the contract, the question will be whether another team would be.

Derrick Jones Jr., of the Clippers, has one year and 10 million dollars remaining. He continues to be a defensive specialist, and his expiring contract offers the Clippers leeway to move him, although the franchise is caught in the situation related to Aspiration.

Kyle Kuzma, of the Milwaukee Bucks, has one year and 20 million dollars remaining. His expiring contract is attractive and could be involved in a deal if Milwaukee executes a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson, Bennedict Mathurin, or Jonathan Kuminga.

DeAndre Hunter from the Sacramento Kings has one year and 25 million dollars remaining. Sacramento wants to keep him as an expiring contract that they can use to make another move, although his name also appears as a potential target. If the Kings can get an asset in return without taking on long-term money, he could be traded at the trade deadline.

Royce O'Neale from the Hornets has two years and 21 million dollars remaining. Charlotte still has work to do with their roster. O'Neale is not a long-term piece, but he has value. The Hornets could hold onto him, see how he fits, and trade him later.

Jake LaRavia from the Lakers has one year and six million dollars remaining. He is a hard worker who plays every game, although he can be inconsistent. His contract makes him an attractive piece as the Lakers continue to define the final part of their roster.

Herb Jones from the Pelicans has four years and 82 million dollars remaining, including a player option. He is one of the popular names on the market, but it is said that New Orleans wants two first-round picks. His injury issues and struggles with three-point shooting over the last two seasons make that price seem steep, while his contract may also deter potential suitors.

Cam Johnson and P.J. Washington, other names to watch

Cam Johnson of the Denver Nuggets has one year and 23 million dollars left on his contract. The move for Peyton Watson likely means he will stay in Denver, though he will be very tradeable in the coming months and before the trade deadline.

Johnson struggled during his only season in Denver and has been in trade rumors for years. Teams wanted the Nuggets to include draft picks in a deal for him, but that did not happen.

Still, he maintains enough reputation around the league to generate interest. Denver, constrained by the second apron, particularly values that his contract is expiring. The franchise needs that space for Nikola Jokic next summer.

P.J. Washington of the Mavericks has four years and 90 million dollars remaining. Like Daniel Gafford, he is coming off Dallas’s books, as he will turn 28 this summer.

He is a forward capable of stretching the floor and defending well, but his shooting has been questionable: he only made 32.5% of his three-pointers last season. Like with Gafford, Dallas hopes to get a first-round pick in return, although his contract poses a hindrance and his production is not up to par.

Interiors complete the market for potential trades

Among the interiors appears Paolo Banchero from Orlando. He has five years and $245 million left, with a player option. Finding a team willing to take on that contract would be complicated, but if the Magic continue to disappoint, he could become a key name in trade rumors.

Jalen Smith from the Bulls has one year and $9.4 million left. In an earlier version of this list, Patrick Williams was mentioned, whose departure would have symbolized the end of the previous era with the arrival of the new general manager, Bryson Graham. However, no one seems willing to take on Williams' three-year, $54 million contract.

There is interest in Smith, so Chicago could capitalize on his value as the season progresses and teams start to clearly identify their needs in the interior positions.

Nikola Jovic from the Miami Heat has four years and $62 million left. There is some caution regarding trading for him, although he is available and only 23 years old. The main issue is the high contract he still has.

Grant Williams from the Hornets has one year and $15 million left. Charlotte has not finished shaping its roster, and his expiring contract holds value. Additionally, he can continue to be a useful interior player off the bench.

Zeke Nnaji of the Nuggets has four years and 32 million dollars remaining. Denver already tried to trade him this summer but found no interested parties. His contract is not particularly high, although four years is a long period for him.

Obi Toppin of the Pacers has two years and 31 million dollars remaining. A foot injury ruined his last season, and even when healthy, he is a bench player who provides around 18 minutes per night.

Indiana will likely make some move to get under the luxury tax, either now or at the trade deadline.

Jarred Vanderbilt of the Lakers has two years and 26 million dollars remaining. The Lakers have tried to find a team willing to take him on, but no one has shown much interest in assuming his contract.

Now the question is what to do with him. The most likely scenario is that the Lakers will keep him in the rotation and try to restore his value, with an eye on a possible trade at the deadline or next summer. There could also be minor moves involving Dalton Knecht and/or Jaden Hardy, but Vanderbilt is the player the Lakers want to part ways with.

Aaron Gordon of the Nuggets has three years and 110 million dollars remaining. Denver will face a complicated situation next year with the second apron, something that has been widely documented.

That is one of the reasons why the Nuggets did not want to part with Cam Johnson's expiring contract this summer, and they probably won't do so during this season either. Denver values the $23 million that Johnson will free up when he becomes a free agent.

The Nuggets plan to offer Nikola Jokic a $360 million extension next summer, but they will need more flexibility. Trading Gordon could provide that, although his contract and physical issues complicate a deal.

Finally, Daniel Gafford of the Mavericks has three years and $54 million remaining. He will turn 28 in October, and with Dallas focused on rejuvenating the roster, parting ways with him has been one of the team's goals.

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