Karl-Anthony Towns is emerging as a realistic trade target for the Chicago Bulls as the Knicks continue to explore moving the All-NBA center. New York's asking price has dropped considerably, which has opened the door for the Bulls to take an ambitious swing.
The Knicks would be content acquiring "salary-matching players and, maybe, small draft compensation," according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (subscription required), if they trade their once-franchise big man.
Considering Chicago's serious need for both a center and a superstar -- along with its asset cupboard full of expiring contracts and draft picks -- pursuing a deal for Towns is worth a legitimate look.
The Bulls can finally fix a glaring roster problem
Even at age 35 and on an expiring deal, Nikola Vucevic is still Chicago's starting five. He's a ground-bound, plodding center who offers no rim protection on a team that wants to win with athleticism and tempo and already lacks any semblance of interior defense.
The only backup on the roster is Zach Collins, who's played 10 out of a possible 50 games.
Vucevic has started 375 times since joining the Bulls during the 2020-21 season. Collins, Andre Drummond and Tristan Thompson have been his primary backups during that stretch.
It's time for an upgrade. Even with noticeable flaws, Towns would certainly be one.
The 30-year-old is having his worst offensive campaign since he won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2015-16. He's averaging just 20.0 points on 46.1 percent shooting from the field and 36.1 percent shooting from 3-point range.
For reference, Towns is a career 22.9 point-per-game scorer with shooting percentages of 52.0 and 39.8, respectively.
The Knicks have dropped their asking price on Karl-Anthony Towns
KAT's stay in New York seems to be at an end, one way or another. He's not a fit on the court and doesn't appear to be one off it, either. He's also owed $57.1 million next season and $61 million in 2027-28. It's not hard to see why the Knicks want to move on.
But Gotham's loss could be the Windy City's gain.
Towns was a third-team All-NBA player last season who's been forced to learn a new system under a new head coach in Mike Brown -- one that he's not especially suited for on either end of the floor. His team also offered him up in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo in the offseason.
Those aren't excuses, but you can imagine how a change of scenery might benefit the five-time All-Star.
And if Edwards' report is accurate, the Bulls would have no problem meeting New York's asking price with Vucevic, Collins and Kevin Huerter all on expiring contracts between $18 and $21 million. Chicago has access to its first-round picks for the next seven seasons, plus an additional one from the Portland Trail Blazers, and just acquired two more second-rounders.
If Bulls Executive VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas can steal Towns at this much of a discount, it's a trade worth exploring.