Karl-Anthony Towns trade rumors: New York Knicks star still in consideration for deal

After almost a year and a half moving to the New York Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns could be on his way out of the Big Apple. With the February trade deadline approaching, the Knicks remain one of the franchises active on the market, and KAT has been a hot topic.

Karl-Anthony Town to depart from the New York Knicks?

While officials from the Knicks have declined speculations of Towns being traded, insider Marc Stein thinks there is a growing belief among the league that a trade for him could be considered.

NBA Central shared Stein's report regarding KAT's New York future on X (formerly Twitter) last night.

"Behind the scenes, Knicks officials have tried to downplay any notion that Karl-Anthony Towns could be traded during the season amid New York’s (and Towns') January struggles," the report from Stein read.

"A belief persists among some rival teams that Towns is in play to some degree. Or that the Knicks, at the very least, have tried to get a sense of what his market would be.”

The New York Knicks are still viewed as a serious title threat in the East, but they have not lived up to the expectations, even with an NBA Cup win on their resume.

Much of the criticism has centered on their defense, which has been pretty inconsistent all season, with Karl-Anthony Towns often singled out as a pivotal weak point on that end of the floor.

With Mike Brown having centered his teams around their defensive solidity, Towns has been mentioned in many mock trades this offseason. While the Knicks may have downplayed a move away from the team, the need for a defensive anchor could force their hand and use KAT as advantage for a potential deal.

Knicks exploring deals involving Karl-Anthony Towns for defensive anchors

The New York Knicks could be poised to make a top-notch trade before the February 5 trade deadline. Reports have claimed that the team is actively looking for defensive anchors, with Karl-Anthony Towns being weighed up as a trade option.

According to NBA Analyst Taylor Houston, the Knicks have identified Jaren Jackson Jr. and Anthony Davis as possible options.

"The New York Knicks have held preliminary trade discussions with both the Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies involving Karl-Anthony Towns," Houston wrote. "League sources say. Conversations with Dallas have included Mavericks star Anthony Davis, while separate talks with Memphis have centered on Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr."

Although not concrete, a deal for either of the two could prepare the Knicks especially with the growing defensive woes.