With the start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season inching closer and closer, the New York Knicks are at least well-equipped to do well in their title defense. They brought back the core members of their championship team, including their vaunted starting five, and barring some unforeseen injury problems (knock on wood), the Knicks should be good enough to be among the best teams in the East once more.
The Knicks can also operate with some form of security considering that four of their core players (Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart) are still under contract for multiple seasons. While they are getting dangerously close to stepping over the second apron, they don't have to think of that issue quite yet, as Brunson still has two more guaranteed seasons on the team-friendly extension he signed back in 2024.
Considering that the Knicks are the NBA's reigning champion, there's no reason for the front office to rock the boat. Giving them a chance to run it back is also the barest of minimums, as there might be riots if New York trades away any beloved member of that title-winning team.
They were already upset enough with Mitchell Robinson's departure, but the dreaded second apron makes it so that letting Robinson go at least made some financial sense.
However, in light of recent contract developments, the Knicks certainly have to consider trading away Karl-Anthony Towns.
Will the Knicks trade away Karl-Anthony Towns?
According to a recent report from ESPN's Shams Charania, contract extension talks between Towns and the Knicks have stalled out, and it is now considered “unlikely” that the two parties can come to an agreement before training camp begins on the 29th.
Towns is making $57.1 million this year and he has a player option worth $61 million for next season, so it's not like there is immense urgency for the Knicks to have to trade him away even though they didn't come to terms on an extension.
Moreover, it's fair to ask if Towns would even get a contract that's anywhere close to the $61 million he would get if he opts into his contract for next season. Thus, he still might be a member of the Knicks roster for the 2027-28 season, giving this core at least two more seasons to try and win another championship.
Article Continues BelowBut in today's CBA landscape where teams are afraid of the second apron (and perhaps rightfully so), the Knicks have to at least consider if it's for the best if they get ahead of this situation and trade Towns away.
Brunson's extension is going to be the priority for the Knicks, and considering that he had already sacrificed in the past, he may not give New York another discount on his next deal. Towns must not be giving New York a discount either considering that the report stated that both parties are far apart in their valuations in negotiations.
Suggesting that the Knicks trade Towns away almost seems horrific. After all, he played well throughout the 2026 NBA playoffs, and for all his much-criticized defensive shortcomings, he actually thrived on that end in the NBA Finals in a matchup against Victor Wembanyama. He might have even been the Finals MVP had it not been for Anunoby and Brunson's heroics.
With the Knicks also losing Robinson, their primary backup center last season, in free agency, Towns has become all the more important for this team. They also lost third-stringer Ariel Hukporti, so it's not like the Knicks have a wealth of options at the position.
But again, Towns is eligible for a four-year, $276 million extension, which is good for an average annual value of $69 million. With Brunson expected to sign a contract worth well over $300 million total when he's eligible for a new deal, New York is about to experience the wrath of the second apron in the near future.
One would think that there is simply no way that the Knicks will acquiesce and give Towns that max extension. Having over half of the salary cap tied up to two players does not seem to be a winning formula in today's NBA, and this isn't even considering the eventual extensions New York will have to fork over for Anunoby, Hart, and Bridges.
If anything, the Knicks should end up keeping Towns this season. They at least owe the fans a runback of this championship core. But fans should be prepared for the sad reality of how teams must operate with the second apron in mind.
The Boston Celtics already pulled the trigger on trading Jaylen Brown away to avoid this very issue. It behooves the Knicks to at least consider pulling off a similar maneuver with Towns.