The New York Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in just six games in this year's Eastern Conference Finals.
After defeating the Boston Celtics in the previous round, most people thought they had a straight shot to the Finals, but the Pacers had another idea.
In a recent report by The Athletic, Knicks players and staff became frustrated with Karl-Anthony Towns' defensive efforts during the season, specifically in the playoffs.
After just one season with the team following a blockbuster trade to bring him into New York, the Knicks had a smell of success, but at what cost?
One issue with the Knicks has been their lack of depth, which could affect Towns’ contributions on the defensive end. In the series against the Pacers, he averaged 35.5 minutes per game, a heavy load for any player.
Could the problem be their lackluster rotation, or is Towns just a below-average defender?
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One author from Sports Illustrated, Jackson Caudell, proposes a solution to the Knicks' depth problem, which involves sending Towns to Chicago in exchange for three key players.
Full details of the trade:
Bulls receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Terance Mann, Kobe Bufkin, Pacôme Dadiet, and a 2027 2nd round pick (from ATL, via CLE)
Knicks Receive: Nikola Vučević, Kevin Huerter, Lonzo Ball, and a 2026 1st round pick (Lottery protected, from CHI, via POR)
Hawks Receive: Ayo Dosunmu
For the Knicks, getting a stretch big man and some other much-needed players to come off the bench and provide quality minutes would be crucial. Nikole Vučević could mirror Towns' ability to stretch the floor, and Lonzo Ball could fit right into their tough defensive identity.
For the Chicago Bulls, they offload Vučević, which they have been rumored to do for a while now, and the Hawks pick up a nice young piece for almost nothing.
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