With the New York Knicks in a slump, would the team consider trading Karl-Anthony Towns for Anthony Davis?
New York Knicks Trade Rumors
By late December, the Knicks were riding high after winning the NBA Cup.
On December 30, the Knicks were 23-9. Since that date, the Knicks have been in trouble, losing six of their last nine games to drop to 26-18.
Defensively, the team is a mess, ranking 17th in defensive rating. Offensively, the team has not meshed in Mike Brown’s offense.
With things going south, many are looking for a scapegoat. Brown is the easy one, considering he must reach the Eastern Conference Finals to match what Tom Thibodeau did a season ago.
The other scapegoat is Towns, who has struggled in Brown’s offense, especially this last month. Towns’ numbers—20.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists—are down from last season.
If the Knicks want to do something drastic, Towns would be the player the team tries to move.
Towns is in the second year of a four-year, $220.4 million extension. Towns will make $57 million next season, and has a player option for $61 million in 2028.
It’s a tough contract to trade, but it’s not impossible. The Knicks would need a team looking to shed a huge contract.
Enter Davis. The Mavericks center is currently dealing with a left-hand injury that could keep him out until next.
On paper, Davis is exactly the type of player the Knicks need—a defensive stalwart who plays like a stretch five.
Davis is averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 20 games.
Davis has two years remaining on his contract. In 2027, Davis is set to make $58 million, and in 2028, he has a player option for $62 million.
Do the Knicks Have Any Trade Options?
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— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 22, 2026
There seem to be conflicting reports about the Knicks and potential trade options.
The Knicks are clearly interested in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but according to Mike Scotto, the Bucks are mixed on Towns.
“I personally never gotten the sense, at least from talking to my sources, that a team like the Milwaukee Bucks would be overly aggressive in trying to get Karl Towns in a Giannis Antetokounmpo package, theoretically,” Scotto said on The Putback.
Davis is the other big name that could be available in a Towns trade. Again, it comes down to the Mavericks’ interest in Towns.
What’s more likely is a smaller trade involving Guerschon Yabusele, Pacôme Dadiet, and draft picks.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET.
