Just before the NBA season tipped off, Tim Connelly and the Minnesota Timberwolves shocked the world with a Karl-Anthony Towns trade to the New York Knicks. It felt almost like a prank, with KAT being dealt to the one team he’d always been linked to in trade rumors. Yet, despite mixed reactions, after some careful consideration, the KAT trade made sense for all parties involved.
The Timberwolves get to reduce their payroll, leading to the retainment of Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and potentially Nickeil Alexander-Walker, among others. They did so, all while strengthening the team’s depth by adding Donte DiVincenzo plus an All-Star in Julius Randle.
Meanwhile, the Knicks got the starting center they desperately coveted after realizing that Mitch Robinson wouldn’t be ready by the start of the season due to his ongoing injury recovery. Plus, KAT is a local two-time All-NBA talent that helps sell more tickets and fits their all-in effort to win the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973.
Yet, now that the Timberwolves are off to a 6-4 start and the Knicks are 4-5, there’s already an early narrative forming around KAT in The Big Apple under Tom Thibodeau, and it’s not a good one.
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Tom Thibodeau has to be disappointed with Karl-Anthony Towns (again)
We’re dealing with a very small sample size of nine games since the New York Knicks traded for Karl-Anthony Towns. Yet, Tom Thibodeau should have already had an idea of how to use the four-time All-Star after coaching him for three seasons in Minnesota.
Back then, Towns operated as the Timberwolves’ starting center, which is the same role he’s filling in New York. This is different than how Chris Finch’s Wolves utilized Towns after acquiring Rudy Gobert, with the sweet-shooting big moving to power forward to accommodate for the Stifle Tower’s arrival.
In Minnesota, the Timberwolves surrounded their ‘Northern Heights’ frontcourt with capable perimeter defenders, including Jaden McDaniels, an All-NBA defender, Mike Conley, and Anthony Edwards.
In New York, the Knicks have tried to do the same, aside from Jalen Brunson, who’s not viewed as a plus defender (122 D-Rating in 2024), plus two All-NBA defenders in Mikal Bridges plus OG Anonoby to go with Josh Hart. Yet, the results are leading to a drastically different outcome for Thibodeau’s Knicks.
In fact, Towns has been the NBA’s worst rim protector this season, allowing opponents to shoot 91.4% against him at the rim.
Karl-Anthony Towns is allowing 91.4% shooting! Players are shooting 32 for 35 against KAT in the restricted area this season according to .@TimBontemps. It's the worst defensive percentage for any player who has guarded at least 30 shots at the rim. pic.twitter.com/0FF9Hwf4It
— The Knicks Recap (@TheKnicksRecap) November 11, 2024
That’s obviously not what the Knicks wanted by trading for KAT. While the Knicks allow the 13th-fewest points in the NBA, they have the eighth-worst defensive rating in the league. As much as he’s struggled defensively, KAT has been as advertised on offense, where he averages 24.9 PPG while pulling down 12.3 RPG.
Still, at a cap hit of $49 million this season, $53M in 2025, and $57M in 2026, the Knicks have to hope Towns can start altering some shots in the paint too, even if he keeps pouring in points on the opposite side of the court.
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