New NBA Rumors on Karl-Anthony Towns' Knicks Future, Potential Trade Amid Giannis Buzz

The New York Knicks could evaluate the future of center Karl-Anthony Towns if they have a disappointing run in the NBA playoffs, according to ESPN's Vincent Goodwill.

"Executives around the league believe Towns would be the key to the Knicks chances to topple the conference favorites," Goodwill wrote in reference to the Boston Celtics. "If they can't, many front office members around the league also believe New York will survey the market for Towns trades this summer."

Towns is due to make $57.1 million next season, a salary that would help balance the finances in a trade for a different marquee star. A deal for the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most common path cited in the past.

Antetokounmpo could be finally on the way out given the general state of the Bucks and how much the speculation about Giannis has adversely affected the organization.

Setting that aside, Goodwill's piece laid out how KAT is a bit of a lightning rod in terms of his value when it matters the most.

"If KAT plays at the highest level, the Knicks are as good as any team in the league," one executive from a Western Conference team said. "But he doesn't bring it every night. I'm not talking about the scoring part. The intensity defensively, the interior presence. I can't deny his talent. He's a special talent."

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Another team exec expects Towns to be the scapegoat if New York exits the postseason earlier than planned.

"If they come up short, if they don't make the Finals — aside from [Mikal] Bridges, because he was traded for all the draft picks — Towns will take the most heat because of his résumé," they said. "Because Brunson won't take the heat and they'll say Towns didn't deliver."

Mostly standing pat last summer made sense for the Knicks. They need to see how the core of Bridges, Brunson, Towns and OG Anunoby fare with the benefit of a full offseason together.

Should New York flatter to deceive, it will be much harder to argue the status quo is working or that the roster just needs more time to jell.

Towns' exit wouldn't be inevitable in that scenario, but the six-time All-Star is probably the most expendable cornerstone piece in the squad.