Latest report confirms no trade talks for Karl-Anthony Towns, highlighting his crucial role with Jalen Brunson.
The New York Knicks have gone through a rough stretch, losing nine of their last 11 games heading into Wednesday's blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets.
That kind of skid is bound to spark trade talk, and star center Karl-Anthony Towns has found his name in the rumor mill.
However, SNY's Ian Begley put those whispers to rest on The Putback this week.
Begley Confirms Knicks Not Shopping Towns
"I checked around on this Monday, everything that I gathered is the Knicks are not having conversations on trading Karl-Anthony Towns," Begley said on the show.
The report comes at a time when Towns' numbers have dipped compared to his strong first season with New York.
The 30-year-old big man is averaging 20.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field this season, and he has admitted that adjusting to head coach Mike Brown's system has been a challenge.
Brown wants Towns to expand his playmaking and operate more on the perimeter, which is a shift from his traditional post-centered game in Minnesota.
Towns has had some quiet outings lately, including a six-point effort on just four field goal attempts in a 121-90 loss to the Pistons and a 13-point game in a loss to the Kings.
However, Towns still showed he can dominate when things click, putting up 40 points and 13 rebounds against his former team, the Timberwolves, earlier this season.
Why the Knicks Should Keep Towns
Despite the recent struggles, there are plenty of reasons why New York should stay the course with Towns.
The Knicks currently sit at 26-18 and hold third place in the Eastern Conference, just 1.5 games behind the second-place Boston Celtics.
That record shows this team can still compete at a high level even when things aren't going smoothly.
Towns gives the Knicks something they haven't had in years: a true All-Star caliber big man who can score at all three levels.
His ability to stretch the floor as a 7-footer spaces things out for Jalen Brunson, who is averaging 26.5 points and 6.5 assists per game.
The pairing of Towns' inside-out scoring with Brunson's playmaking gives New York a dangerous two-man combination that few teams can match.
The Knicks also showed they can bounce back from adversity with their 120-66 win over the Nets on Wednesday, the largest victory margin in franchise history.
Towns chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds in just 20 minutes during that blowout, proving he can still produce when the team is clicking.
With the trade deadline approaching and the Knicks looking to make a deep playoff run, breaking up the core now would be a mistake.
Towns is still one of the most skilled big men in the league, and once he fully adjusts to Brown's system, the Knicks could become even more dangerous.
For now, Begley's report should put fans at ease because New York is standing pat with their star center.