The New York Knicks came into the season as one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference. After making the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, they were expected to be a force again. They brought back most of the same guys.
Right now, the Knicks sit third in the Eastern Conference. Despite their strong place in the standings, fans are not pleased with how Karl-Anthony Towns has been playing. They believe he is causing the team to have bad vibes, which is costing them games.
Former NBA player Jeff Teague also thinks that the team would be better off without Towns. He thinks New York should make a move in the offseason.
Jeff Teague Wants the Knicks to Trade Karl-Anthony Towns
While speaking on the Club 520 Podcast, Teague thinks that getting rid of Towns this summer would help them in the long run.
“KAT out of here. I love that for you, KAT, yeah. Put your foot down, man. Thibs (Tom Thibodeau) should have never left. Y’all started that bulls— with Thibs.”
It seems Teague blames Towns for the Knicks deciding to fire Thibodeau despite taking them to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years. That was a surprising decision, but Thibs had also coached Towns while he was in Minnesota. That relationship was already strained.
The Knicks are one of the best teams in the NBA by the numbers. Offensively, they have the fourth-best offense in the league. Towns’ strong point is his offensive ability. He is one of the best shooting centers of all-time, and his ability to stretch the floor is pivotal to what they do.
Even though Towns is not a great rim protector, New York still has the eighth-best defense in the league. Despite those numbers, Teague believes that the Knicks would be better off without him on the roster, without giving a replacement who would be any better.
New York Still has a Shot to Win a Title
There is no sure thing coming out of the Eastern Conference this year. Now that Jayson Tatum is back, the Celtics are viewed as the favorites. Still, the Knicks have as good a shot as any to make it out of the East. The two best teams in the league reside in the West.
New York hasn’t made the NBA Finals since the 1999 season. If they do make the Finals, anything can happen. The Pacers were two quarters away from becoming the most improbable champion in NBA history. New York also has the size to battle either Oklahoma City or San Antonio.
Staying healthy in the postseason is going to be the key for New York. Last season, they were able to keep their main guys healthy. That’s why they made it as deep as they did in the postseason. Without their starting five healthy, they risk being bounced in the second round.
Towns is someone that the team is relying on to be great if they want to win a title. If they do decide to move him, it will only be because he ends up being terrible in the postseason.
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