Latest Knicks Rumors Reveal Karl-Anthony Towns 'In Play' in Trade Talks, PG Targeted Before Deadline

The New York Knicks reportedly could be a team to watch ahead of the NBA's Feb. 5 trade deadline.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Monday "a belief persists among some rival teams that" New York could put big man Karl-Anthony Towns "in play to some degree. Or that the Knicks, at the very least, have tried to get a sense of what his market would be."

What's more, Stein reported New York has "explored pathways" for a trade that would bring Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday to the Big Apple.

That Holiday would be attractive to New York is not surprising.

The team is in the middle of a win-now window, and the veteran has two championships and a history of delivering in big moments. What's more, his defensive prowess would take some of the pressure off Jalen Brunson on that end of the floor and allow the go-to option to focus more of his in-game energy on offense.

"New York is believed to hold a longstanding fondness for Holiday as a potential backcourt complement to Jalen Brunson," Stein wrote.

Stein also pointed out Holiday previously played with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks and could "make the Knicks an even more attractive destination to" the future Hall of Famer.

As for Towns, moving on from the five-time All-Star would be quite the roster adjustment even though he has struggled at times this season to live up to his high bar. His 20.5 points per game is his lowest mark since he was a rookie, and his 46.9 percent shooting clip from the field is quite below the 52.6 percent clip from last season.

He is also shooting 36.4 percent from deep compared to his 42 percent mark last season.

Towns fouled out in just 16 minutes in his last game on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers, although the Knicks still emerged with a victory. While it was the team's second win in a row, it is also just 4-9 in the last 13 games and could use a shake up by the deadline.

Perhaps such a shake up won't be as major as trading Towns, as Stein also pointed out the front office could instead focus "on smaller deals built around Guerschon Yabusele's $5.5 million salary."

With so many different pathways, the Knicks will be a focal point ahead of the deadline as they attempt to position themselves for a playoff run.