New York Knicks star center Karl-Anthony Towns
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New York Knicks star center Karl-Anthony Towns
The New York Knicks are going to be a team to watch as the February 5 NBA trade deadline continues to draw closer.
Throughout the course of the 2025-26 season thus far, plenty of trade rumors have surrounded the Knicks. Many of those rumors have been connected to the future of star big man Karl-Anthony Towns.
At the end of the day, the reporting has led to believe that Towns could be available ahead of the deadline. He could be used in a trade to upgrade the roster or simply re-tool it. New York could also opt to keep Towns around moving forward.
While the rumors have been loud, no moves have been made yet by the Knicks. Many believe that will change before the deadline arrives.
Concerning Report About the New York Knicks & Karl-Anthony Towns’ Relationship
When trade rumors begin coming out about a player, that can be a very dangerous start to a nasty breakup. That has been seen many times in the past.
Towns is reportedly not happy with New York due to his name being thrown around in so many trade rumors.
According to a report from Steve Popper of Newsday, the relationship between the Knicks and Towns seems to be souring.
“If you saw Towns after Wednesday night’s game — or really, if you’ve seen him at all this season — you know that hearing his name in trade talks has come at a cost,” Popper wrote. “Feelings are hurt. Egos are bruised. And maybe trust is gone.”
Whether or not trust being broken will lead to a trade remains to be seen. The two sides could still will through their differences and move into the future together, but this is a very concerning situation New York finds itself in with Towns.
Towns Could Be an Elite Trade Chip at the Deadline
There are quite a few teams around the NBA who would love to add a talent like Towns. Finding a center who can stretch the floor, put the basketball on the floor, and rebound can be very difficult. That makes Towns a potentially elite trade chip for the Knicks.
So far this season in 44 games played, the 30-year-old center has averaged 20.2 points per game to go along with 11.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks. He has shot 46.2 percent from the floor and knocked down 36.1 percent of his three-point attempts.
Looking at the numbers, it’s clear that Towns could be a cornerstone piece for New York leading into the future. Or, he could be a highly-pursued player on the trade market.
Expect to hear more rumors about the Knicks and Towns in the days leading up to the trade deadline. No one knows what to expect at this point in time, but trade rumors come at a cost. New York could be forced to pay that price in the very near future.