There have been some rumors that the New York Knicks could look to move on from Karl-Anthony Towns, but none of them seem to be too true. Towns, one of the better centers in the NBA, despite a rough showing in the Eastern Conference Finals on the defensive side of the basketball, would be wanted around the league if the Knicks made him available. When searching for potential trade options, if they were to make him available, Bleacher Report listed the Los Angeles Lakers as a landing spot.
“Towns might land on the optimistic end of L.A.’s trade budget, but the Lakers might have just enough assets and money-matching salaries to get a deal done. And while he isn’t the lob-crusher many might envision the franchise pairing with Luka Dončić, Towns’ ability to stretch the floor could prove even more beneficial for the Lakers’ stars,” Buckley wrote.
Is Towns a Fit With the Lakers?
The Los Angeles Lakers have done a decent job over the past few months of constructing their roster, notably adding Luka Doncic. However, that also put them in a weird position on the defensive side of the basketball, which Towns wouldn’t fix. According to The Athletic, New York Knicks players were upset with his defensive efforts throughout the year.
“Publicly, Knicks players made veiled comments all season about poor communication causing their inconsistencies. Behind the scenes, they and coaches expressed frustration with Towns’ defensive habits — less concerned with his talent level and more with his process on that end. Too often, Towns executed incorrect coverages without communicating why he did it. After it became a theme, players worried Towns didn’t grasp the importance of the matter,” they wrote.
While the Lakers might focus on his 3-point shot, which is fair considering he shot 42% from 3-point range and averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds, it’s essential to remember how poorly they performed defensively at times.
An Alternative Center Solution
The Los Angeles Lakers have ways to get creative at the center position, and former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers recently suggested that they do so. He admitted that LeBron James could play the five, but suggested that it might not be the best idea. Myers said that it wears players out, but that he’s such a fantastic player that he could play there.
“The Lakers team wore down because they stopped playing five. LeBron at the five can work, it’s like Draymond Green. It wears you out. LeBron is a fantastic player, but him at the five is very tiresome,” Myers explained.
“I can’t sit here and say it’s easy to go get a big right now that can actually impact winning, that Luka Doncic wants to run the pick and roll with, and LeBron James that they can play at the five,” Myers said.
However, as he mentioned, it’s not the smartest idea to do so. If the Lakers were able to add somebody of Towns’ caliber, it’d make more sense to do that.
Whether they want to add Towns or not remains to be seen, but the Lakers will certainly be in the market for a big man this year. They need one during the offseason, and if they don’t find one, things could be weird.
Lakers Predicted to Trade for $220 Million 24.4 PPG All-Star