Karl-Anthony Towns' future at the New York Knicks is in the spotlight after reports of stalled contract negotiations, with teams such as the Golden State Warriors potentially waiting to pounce on what is another situation that appears driven by the second apron era.
Towns has a $61 million player option he could opt out of to become a free agent next summer, but the Knicks may well trade the six-time All-Star before then if they believe that his exit is inevitable. In that case the Warriors could still be well positioned to make a move, though it would almost certainly have to involve Jimmy Butler in what would be an ironic twist after the pair were teammates at the Minnesota Timberwolves nearly a decade ago.
Karl-Anthony Towns trade idea comes with ironic Jimmy Butler twist
As much as Golden State could try to form a package around Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody, that simply becomes too complicated for two teams pushing up against the second apron.
Therefore a trade would be centered around Butler's expiring contract and draft capital. The Warriors would get a legitimate co-star for Stephen Curry who ESPN just ranked as the 16th-best player in the league, and one they had some interest in before his move to the Knicks nearly two years ago.
New York, meanwhile, would get two or three of Golden State's valuable future first-round picks. Butler can aid in their short-term ambitions of going back-to-back, assuming the trade was made sometime between his likely January return and the February mid-season deadline. He's also an expiring contract which would ease the Knicks' long-term payroll headaches.
The biggest concern for the Knicks would be the subsequent hole at the center position, something they'd need to address via another trade or on the buyout market. It would be a gamble and one fans would likely frown upon so shortly after Towns' role in a drought-break championship, but it's also a better alternative to simply letting the 30-year-old leave in free agency.
Towns-Butler trade would add final chapter to notable relationship
Given the notable and often tumultuous relationship between the two, it would only make sense for the final chapter to be written in the form of Towns and Butler being traded for one another as the latter comes toward the end of his career.
Towns and Butler played 74 games together as teammates at the Timberwolves, only for it to come crashing down in one of the most infamous player exits that the league has seen over the last two decades.
For the moment Towns will use the start of the season to try and convince the Knicks of giving him a max extension, while Butler continues to recover from a torn ACL with the anticipation of returning early next calendar year.
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