Fansided

If the Knicks hire Tom Thibodeau, Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t coming

By Matt Verderame

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 17: Karl Anthony-Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 17, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 17: Karl Anthony-Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 17, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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If the New York Knicks hire Tom Thibodeau, they likely aren’t landing Karl-Anthony Towns.

Knicks fans are always waiting for a savior in an acquisition If they hire Tom Thibodeau to be their next head coach as many expect, said savior won’t be center Karl Anthony-Towns.

Towns, 24, is one of the league’s rising stars. In five seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Towns has twice been named an All-Star while proving durable, only missing five games over his first four seasons. He’s averaged 22.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 83 percent from the line.

In short, he’s a phenomenal building block, and yet he may not be long for Minnesota.

Enter the Knicks. New York has won a single postseason series since 2001 and is always hunting for stars. A year ago, it was supposed to be the tandem of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in free agency, but both signed with the crosstown Brooklyn Nets.

There has long been smoke around the Knicks trading for Towns due to his ties with tam president Leon Rose. However, hiring Thibodeau would likely mean the end of those dreams. With Towns signed with the T’Wolves through the 2023-24 season on a five-year, $158 million deal, the Knicks would be gambling an absurd amount on reconciliation.

During Thibodeau’s time in Minnesota, he clashed severely with Towns. Trading a litany of assets away for a player who clearly wouldn’t want any part of the situation would be a disaster for New York, and one it can’t afford considering recent history.

In the meantime, the Knicks must continue building around a pair of young talents in guard RJ Barrett and center Mitchell Robinson. Barrett looked like a quality player in his rookie season out of Duke, scoring 14.3 points on 30 minutes per game.

Robinson is in his second year and plays fantastic defense as a rim protector. He also led the NBA this season in shooting percentage (74.2%) while notching 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 23 minutes per game.

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