The New York Knicks have reportedly put a potential Karl-Anthony Towns trade on the table as negotiations over a lucrative contract extension continue to stall.
Towns is eligible to sign a four-year extension worth approximately $276 million, but the Knicks are facing financial restrictions under an alleged mandate from owner James Dolan to avoid entering the second luxury tax apron.
The 30-year-old still has two years remaining on his current contract, although the final season is a player option that could allow him to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
New York Knicks could consider trading Karl-Anthony Towns if extension talks fail
According to Sean Deveney of Heavy on Sports, New York has discussed the possibility of trading Towns if he decides his future lies away from the franchise.
Deveney explained that the Knicks have made the option clear to the centre as both sides continue to work towards an agreement.
“The Knicks would be crazy to trade Towns at this point, but then, the Knicks are crazy not to have found common ground on an extension before the season started,” Deveney wrote.
“So, we can’t rule out a deal if it looks like Towns will seriously weigh leaving in the summer of 2027. The Knicks have put that option on the table for him, and he will have suitors if nothing changes between now and June 30.”
However, the financial gap between the two sides remains significant.
Knicks put Karl-Anthony Towns trade on
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According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, Towns turned down a four-year offer worth approximately $200 million during the summer. That figure was around $77 million below the maximum extension available to him and would also have represented a pay cut from his current $57 million salary.
The Knicks may also have to consider the contracts of Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson, who are both eligible for extensions at different points.
Towns’ expectations could also have been influenced by Jalen Duren’s new four-year, $200 million extension with the Detroit Pistons.
An anonymous executive told SNY’s Ian Begley that New York would likely need to offer Towns more than Duren received, given his experience and standing in the league.
With Towns potentially able to test free agency in 2027, the Knicks face an important decision over whether to meet his financial demands or explore a trade before his contract situation becomes more complicated.
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