Reports suggest the Knicks may consider trading Towns! If they exit the playoffs early, he could become a key asset in a deal for Giannis.

On April 24, Beijing time, ESPN reporter Goodwill reported that if the New York Knicks underperform in this season's playoffs, the team might reassess the future of center Karl-Anthony Towns.

Goodwill wrote, "Executives across the league widely believe that Towns would be a crucial trade piece for the Knicks if they aim to challenge the Eastern Conference favorite Boston Celtics. Should that effort fail, many team executives think the Knicks will explore trading Towns this summer."

Towns' salary next season is as high as $57.1 million, a large contract that could be used to match salaries in a trade for another star player. The most frequently mentioned trade scenario involves pursuing Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Considering the Bucks' current overall situation and the long-standing rumors of Giannis' departure affecting team operations, he might finally be nearing a tipping point to leave.

Apart from that, Goodwill noted in his report: in critical, tough games, Towns' value on the court remains highly debated and easily becomes a focal point of public discussion.

A Western Conference executive stated: "If Towns plays at his peak level, the Knicks' competitiveness matches any top team in the league. But he can't deliver that consistency every night. I'm not talking about scoring, but defensive intensity and interior presence. His exceptional talent is undeniable; he's a uniquely gifted player."

Another league executive predicted: if the Knicks exit the playoffs early and fail to meet their goals, Towns will likely become the scapegoat for the team's failure.

"If they ultimately miss the Finals, aside from Mikal Bridges, based on past performance, Towns will certainly face the most criticism," the executive said. "Brunson won't be blamed; the outside world will fault Towns for not carrying the team."

Last offseason, the Knicks largely kept their core roster intact, a reasonable move. The team needed a full offseason to integrate and test the effectiveness of the core combination of Bridges, Brunson, Towns, and OG Anunoby.

If the Knicks deliver mediocre regular-season results and underperform in the playoffs, management will struggle to justify the current roster and can no longer maintain the status quo by citing 'needing time to gel.'

Even in that scenario, Towns isn't necessarily guaranteed to be traded, but this six-time All-Star is likely the most movable player within the team's core framework. Currently, the Knicks and Hawks are tied 1-1, with Game 3 set for today.