Karl-Anthony Towns Is One Star Trade Target the Hawks Should Seriously Consider

The Atlanta Hawks have been linked to a lot of star players, but they haven't always made sense.

Karl-Anthony Towns is one potential target they would have to seriously consider.

Towns' current situation is odd. The New York Knicks are fresh off an NBA championship-winning season. So why does there seem to be hesitation when it comes to paying Towns?

Without insider information, it's hard to say.

What's publicly known is that Towns has stated that the two sides are "not close" in negotiations. He presumably wants a max contract, and the Knicks don't seem to want to give it to him.

The Hawks should consider opening the purse strings if he becomes available.

Often, I use this space to dismiss Hawks trades that involve replacing Onyeka Okongwu with a big man who doesn't space the floor.

It's absurd.

Jalen Johnson is a mediocre shooter, and Dyson Daniels is a poor one. With those two on the roster, a stretch five is imperative. Why would you give one up when you already have one?

That would not be a conflict here.

Towns is perhaps the best shooting big man in the NBA. He's not as strong of a defender as Okongwu, but he has made strides in that area.

By the numbers, Okongwu was the better shooter from deep last year. He hit 37.6% of his 5.2 3-point attempts per game to Towns' 36.8% on 4.1 attempts.

There are a couple of points to make there.

Firstly, Towns had a down year. He has an extensive track record of shooting north of 40% from 3-point range.

Secondly, he still has superior gravity to Okongwu. If Towns is open beyond the arc, defenses scramble to correct their mistake.

Moreover, you wouldn't strictly be bringing in Towns to space the floor.

He'd be the best half-court scorer on this team.

Arguably, that's the main reason you'd bring him in.

Besides, there's a world where Atlanta can bring Towns in while keeping Okongwu.

Perhaps it's a stretch.

Financially, it could be difficult to make a deal work that brings Towns into the fold while keeping Okongwu.

Still, basketball-wise, it could make sense.

Each of those players can spend time at the 4. Johnson can play the 3. If the Hawks want to lean into size, acquiring Towns while keeping Okongwu is a viable option.

That could give Atlanta a frontcourt with shooting, playmaking, rebounding, rim protection, and the ability to create mismatches across several positions.

The Hawks already have a strong core around Johnson, Daniels, Okongwu, and their revamped perimeter group, and Atlanta's projected starting lineup has been viewed as one of the league's better units.

It's possible that none of this happens.

Towns' contract would make it difficult to acquire him without gutting the rest of the roster. Atlanta would also have to decide how much of its young depth and draft capital it would be willing to sacrifice for a veteran star.

Still, unlike some of the other big names that get thrown into hypothetical Hawks trades, Towns makes intuitive sense for what Atlanta is building.

Finally.