Karl-Anthony Towns was a significant acquisition for New York, which desperately needed help at center this past offseason. Mitchell Robinson still needs more recovery time following multiple ankle surgeries. As a result, they made the bold move of trading for Towns right before the season started. The Towns trade has paid off, but New York could target another piece for the team.
Karl-Anthony Towns Could Use Another Scoring Center
Towns has been stout since arriving in the Big Apple. He and Jalen Brunson have been forming a 1-2 dynamic duo, and both have put themselves in MVP conversations. KAT has averaged 25.3 points per game, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists so far in 35 games this season. Minnesota began its 2025 slate with a tight 118-115 home loss against the defending champs Boston Celtics. New York is third in offensive rating, narrowly trailing the Celtics. That is a vast improvement from last year when they ranked seventh last season. New York looks like a serious contender, and Karl-Anthony Towns is a serious reason why.
Ahead of New York’s victory over the Wizards on Dec. 30, center Jonas Valanciunas confirmed to New York Post Sports writer Stefan Bondy that he heard of New York’s interest.
“I don’t know how serious that was. My agent was handling,” Valanciunas said.
Of course, the Knicks went forward with Towns, and the move has paid off well, although center depth is still pretty concerning. Robinson is still out, and there have been some rumors about New York trading him.
Eventually, in free agency, Valanciunas signed a three-year $30.2 million deal with Washington. Valanciunas is good at setting screens and is a strong rebounder. He is quite a reliable option on the offensive side of the ball. In 35 games this season, Valanciunas has averaged 11.9 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.8 blocks. Towns’ play has completely transformed New York’s offense, and only time will tell if it continues in the playoffs. Despite coming off the bench, Valanciunas has been solid on offense.
Why Pursuing Jonas Valanciunas is an Option For Knicks
A team with Karl-Anthony Towns can be a powerful force (see his stats for this season). A team without him on the floor is a middling playoff team at best (see Minnesota battling to hold a tight grip on the seventh seed in the West). Mitchell Robinson is a good piece of offensive rebounding and rim protection when healthy. However, he has yet to hit the court this season due to injury. Enter Valanciunas, who has some offensive capabilities to showcase on the court.
New York already saw what Valanciunas could do on the court, with his 22 points and nine rebounds against them on Dec. 30. The Knicks still won that game, 126-106. Another signature game this season from Valancinuas was his 20 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks in a Dec. 7 win against the Nuggets. His performance overcame Nikola Jokic‘s 56 points. Valanciunas plays hard, and his effort significantly impacts the court. If he were to go to New York, he could help carry the load inside the paint to allow Anthony-Towns some more rest.
Valanciunas doesn’t have the numbers of Towns, but his size and bulk are felt on the court. He is precise and efficient right off the pass and plays strong on the inside. Other notable skills from the big man are that he takes advantage of switches and bullies thinner bigs down low. Valanciunas is patient with his pump fakes, which helps him get to the free-throw line without demanding a ton of offense. In a 109-103 loss to Philadelphia on Jan. 8, the Lithuanian star scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
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New York had a little slump from losing three in a row after getting on a nine-game win streak. The Knicks are 25-13, holding the third spot in the Eastern Conference. Valanciunas could be an addition to New York’s bench; his size, skill, and toughness make him reliable. Towns demands the offensive production, but it is a long season. Not that Towns can’t hold his own, but having another big man who can score could help.
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