The Golden State Warriors, like the Los Angeles Lakers, have plenty of capable perimeter assets but could use a big man to hold down the fort in the frontcourt.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley believes the organization could help Stephen Curry finally surpass LeBron James in the rings department (they’re tied at four) by acquiring a dynamic New York Knicks center.
“The Warriors are a long-shot destination for (Karl-Anthony) Towns, since his addition would require the subtraction of either Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green,” Buckley wrote Wednesday.
“They're still worth mentioning, though, because they clearly want a stretch big manning the middle, and Towns is one of the best in basketball.”
“A pick-and-pop game between Towns and Stephen Curry sounds like nightmare fuel for the rest of the league. There'd be no right way to defend it; all options would be bad.”
“Plus, even if the Dubs' depth took a hit in a Towns trade, coach Steve Kerr would maximize whatever is left by keeping them moving through sprawling cutting lanes and exploiting all of the floor-to-ceiling passing windows.”
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Towns exceeded expectations with the Knicks during his first season with the franchise. Towns, who was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Knicks before the start of the 2024-25 campaign, was dominant alongside Jalen Brunson in Year 10.
The Kentucky product showcased his lethal burst in rip-through situations on the perimeter, an elite shooting stroke from beyond the arc, forceful low-post moves in one-on-one scenarios, and a killer mentality during crunch time on the Eastern Conference Finals-bound Knicks.
The 7-foot center averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, shooting 52.6% from the field and 42.0% from downtown.
By landing Towns in a blockbuster summer trade centered around Butler and/or Green, the Warriors would finally possess a high-level big man who could allow the organization to refrain from playing small ball on the hardwood (Green could move to the four if he remains on the roster).
As Buckley noted, completing a deal for Towns would present some obstacles for the Dubs, but it shouldn’t deter them from contacting the former first-round pick this summer.
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