Cavaliers Named Trade Landing Spot for Knicks Star Karl-Anthony Towns

Andrew Peters of Bleacher Report named the Cleveland Cavaliers a trade landing spot for New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Knicks and Towns will not agree to a contract extension before the season, so some people around the NBA believe KAT and New York could part ways via a trade. 

Peters thinks the Cavaliers should offer Jarrett Allen to the Knicks for Towns, who will make $57.1 million this season. He has a player option worth $61 million for the 2027-28 campaign.

The Cavaliers will start James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Allen this season. Replacing Allen with Towns would make Cleveland strong championship contenders. 

For the Knicks last season, Towns averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game while shooting 50.1% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 85.8% from the free-throw line. The six-time All-Star recorded 56 double-doubles and one triple-double.

Allen will make $28 million this season. The Texas product averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season while shooting 63.8% from the field and 70.9% from the free-throw line. He recorded 20 double-doubles.

In the 2026 playoffs against the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and Knicks, Allen put up 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest. The Knicks swept Allen and the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

A one-time All-Star, Allen has played for the Brooklyn Nets and Cavaliers. He holds career averages of 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The big man doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract. Why is that important?

Well, many people around the NBA believe the Cavaliers could trade Allen if they struggle because his contract is easy tradeable and many teams admire him. 

While Allen's skill set is fairly limited, his market might be robust. Few rim-runners provide a bigger impact on both ends of the floor than the career 64.1 percent shooter who has thrice received votes for Defensive Player of the Year.

It will be fascinating to see what happens between Towns and the Knicks. The Knicks, who won the championship last season against the San Antonio Spurs in five games, have offered Towns $200 million, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. Towns is eligible for a $277 million extension.

New York acquired Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves before the 2024-25 season. Towns is averaging 22.2 points and 12.3 rebounds per game in the regular season and 18.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game in the playoffs as a member of the Knicks.