Karl-Anthony Towns trade rumors have unexpectedly surfaced as the New York Knicks have struggled as of late, leaving many to wonder if they'll shake up their roster by the Feb. 5 trade deadline as a result.
According to Steve Popper of Newsday Sports, Towns' name previously came up in trade talks with the Milwaukee Bucks involving Giannis Antetokounmpo. Since then, those conversations have now included the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Hornets.
But with the Portland Trail Blazers potentially looking to buy at the deadline to end an active four-year playoff drought, could they emerge as a dark horse in a blockbuster Towns deal?
Stefan Bondy, who covers the Knicks for the New York Post, recently proposed a trade that would send the star big man to Portland.
Here is the deal in full:
Karl-Anthony Towns trade to propel Blazers back into playoffs
Towns is the highest-paid player on either roster, owed $53.1 million this season. In this deal, Portland would be combining the two $32 million salaries of Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant, meaning the salary filler would have to be around $10 million.
That could complicate things, as the only player in that salary range for New York is Mitchell Robinson ($13 million). Although Robinson could be deemed somewhat expendable given his extensive injury history and expiring contract, the Knicks are already rumored to be looking to bolster their frontcourt depth. Losing KAT and Robinson without getting a big man in return is the opposite of that direction they are looking to take. But assuming they address that problem elsewhere or find a way to make this work financially without hurting that depth, this is a deal that makes sense for both parties.
Towns is an overpaid star, but Portland is giving up two aging, expensive assets of its own. All three deals expire after the 2027-28 season, after accounting for player options, so this would essentially be the Blazers consolidating two bad contracts into one.
Given Holiday's injury history and Grant's one-dimensionality that was exposed during an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign, that may not be a bad idea for Portland. They can address their relative lack of star power to help make the postseason out west without sacrificing their future, assuming little to no draft capital is involved.
Sure, Donovan Clingan has solidified his place as Portland's center of the future. But Towns has proven he can effectively play the four alongside an elite rim protector, particularly during his time with Rudy Gobert in Minnesota. With Clingan's improved floor spacing, the Blazers would suddenly have an intriguing frontcourt that would help address their overall lack of shooting on this roster.
It's understandable if some don't want to break up this Blazers roster. They're playing the best basketball of the season and have overcome key injuries to get back to .500. They also haven't been at full strength, so it's hard to fully evaluate this roster.
But eventually, Portland will need to make a splash to help get over the hump. If Towns is truly available for this price, this could be the aggressive move they need to make. It's a perfect opportunity to land a legitimate star to get back to the postseason.