Four-Team NBA Trade Idea Lands Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns With Pelicans

A four-team NBA trade idea landing New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns with the New Orleans Pelicans has been created. 

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report created the following four-team NBA trade: 

New Orleans Pelicans get: Karl-Anthony Towns

New York Knicks get: Kevin Durant

Phoenix Suns get: Dejounte Murray, Yves Missi, Kelly Olynyk, its own 2026 first-round pick (via Washington’s swap rights), Indiana’s 2026 first-round pick (top-four protection, via New Orleans), New Orleans’ 2026 first-round pick (top-nine protection), 2028 first-round swap (least favorable of Brooklyn, New York and Phoenix, via New York), Toronto’s 2031 first-round pick (via New Orleans)

Washington Wizards get: PJ Tucker, 2027 first-round pick swap (most favorable of Milwaukee and New Orleans, with top-four protection, via New Orleans)

New York acquired Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves before the season started. 

In his first season with the Knicks, Towns averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 52.6% from the field, 42.0% from beyond the arc and 82.9% from the free-throw line. 

A five-time All-Star, Towns will make $53,142,264 next season and $57,078,728 in 2026-27. He has a player option worth $61,015,192 for the 2027-28 season.

Towns is eligible to sign an extension this offseason that could add another two years to his deal.

According to James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz of The Athletic, Knicks players and coaches were frustrated with Towns’ defensive habits this season. 

“Publicly, Knicks players made veiled comments all season about poor communication causing their inconsistencies,” Edwards III and Katz wrote. “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.”

The Knicks are interested in trading for Durant, who has one year left on his contract. 

The Suns will trade KD soon.