NBA Trade Rumors: Knicks are eyeing Karl-Anthony Towns
The calendar has turned to March, and the NBA's annual trade deadline is now just weeks away. Let’s look into some of the biggest rumors swirling around the Association this week.
Oladipo turns down contract extension
On Sunday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Victor Oladipo turned down a two year, $42.5 million contract extension. All signs point to the star heading to the trade market before the Mar. 25 deadline. The Rockets are already sellers, so why not send their biggest asset off to a contender for draft capital and future assets?
ESPN Sources: Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo recently turned down a two-year, $45.2M contract extension, most the franchise is eligible to offer him now. https://t.co/Tl0Q4Gi6zy
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 1, 2021
The Miami Heat are the favorite to land Oladipo in free agency, but they may try to scoop up the former All-Star even earlier if Houston is willing to make a deal.
"I don't think it's any secret in the league Victor has a desire to play in Miami," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective. "He'd like to go there in free agency. They're going to have cap space, so that may happen."
The KAT is out of the bag
The Minnesota Timberwolves are the worst team in the NBA at 7-28 currently. Even though their superstar Karl-Anthony Towns is still under contract for three more seasons, I cannot imagine he can handle losing for much longer.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported on The Putback that New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau “just wants to win” and is “open” to trading for Towns if he is available. The Knicks could package Julius Randle with another young guard to try to snag the 25-year-old center
Report: Tom Thibodeau ‘open’ to reuniting with Karl-Anthony Towns on Knicks https://t.co/amGAWrdUsU
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 28, 2021
The Phoenix Suns could also be in play for Towns Newly acquired Arizona Cardinal J.J. Watt sent out a cryptic tweet welcoming the big man to join him and Kyler Murray in Arizona.
the NBA trade deadline hasn’t passed yet @KarlTowns... https://t.co/9mPr2pMcCB
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 3, 2021
Bledsoe heading back to LA?
The Los Angeles Clippers are having a nice season, but they are still sitting behind the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference standings. They just need that little extra boost to put them back in the favorites discussion for the NBA title.
The Clippers have been openly shopping guards Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley. The New Orleans Pelicans are looking to build a better roster around Zion Williamson, and Eric Bledsoe has just been an awkward fit with Lonzo Ball.
Kevin Knox rumors swirling
The Knicks have surprised the NBA world this season as they currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Now the trade rumors are swirling that New York is on the verge of adding a superstar to make this young team a true contender. One name that keeps on popping up in trade speculation is Kevin Knox.
Sam Amico of FourtyEightMinutes reported, "The Knicks continue to make third-year forward Kevin Knox available, leading to speculation that he too could be involved in a hypothetical Andre Drummond trade. Drummond reportedly would welcome a trade to New York."
Report: Knicks have made Kevin Knox available in trade talks https://t.co/kTvjA5OlUs
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 1, 2021
The Cavaliers' big man is still sitting out waiting for a trade, so I am sure the Knicks would love to add the All-Star to their young roster of talented contenders. The Knicks have the pieces to send to Cleveland to make this work.
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