Knicks Could Trade Karl Anthony Towns Before Giannis Deal

Merlin sees the Knicks circling options as the trade deadline nears. The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III reports Karl-Anthony Towns may not be untouchable, but New York lacks the young assets and draft capital to land a star like Giannis now. Edwards writes "the Knicks have played some of their best basketball as of late without Towns on the floor," and any Towns return would likely be salary-matching pieces and maybe small draft compensation. A blockbuster deal looks unlikely before Thursday. Merlin notes roster value has slipped — Towns and Mikal Bridges "aren't believed to have the same value today" — and moving Guerschon Yabusele remains stalled because "nothing has changed." Sitting second in the East, the Knicks can afford to wait for the offseason; expect tweaks, not fireworks, in the short term.