Speculation around Karl-Anthony Towns' status for the New York Knicks preseason opener on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets is peaking. Towns is not on the injury report and could debut for this new team. The All-Star big man's trade is official, making him a likely presence at the team's first preseason game.
Towns has been in the gym since day one, too. It will be crucial for the Knicks to give him time to adjust to new surroundings and teammates during this stretch. New York can use these exhibition games to get him adjusted and vice versa. He is a different type of center than what the team has had in the form of Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson over the past few years.
With Robinson out due to injury, the Knicks will likely rely heavily on Karl-Anthony Towns to start the season in the center position. His deputies, Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims, may not earn significant roles just yet, so the Knicks must be prompt with Towns' integration into the lineup.
Sunday's game against the Hornets could be a good start for the new-look roster to develop chemistry, especially with Mikal Bridges also joining the team this year.
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Karl-Anthony Towns' move to the Knicks is filled with reunions
Karl-Anthony Towns' trade to the New York Knicks saw him make several reunions. That starts with KAT returning home. He was born in New Jersey and has emotional memories of MSG, thanks to his late mother. Meanwhile, GM Leon Rose is his former agent, and William Wesley was associated with the Wildcats' program when Towns played NCAA basketball in Kentucky.
If that wasn't enough, the All-Star center will also play for coach Tom Thibodeau in a second stint after two-and-a-half years in Minnesota between 2016 and 2019. Towns' history with the city and the franchise personnel gives him a more homely feeling in this unexpected move.
Like many, he didn't see this blockbuster trade coming to fruition, especially after the Timberwolves made the conference finals last year, with KAT playing a key role.
"Shocked," KAT said about his initial reaction about the trade. "Maybe the word flabbergasted is more correct. Just shocked."
Karl-Anthony Towns is in a great position to be in the conference finals again. The only difference is that it will be in the East this year instead of the West.
The Knicks have one of the best rosters in the division after acquiring Towns and Mikal Bridges this summer. They also retained OG Anunoby and extended Jalen Bunson and Josh Hart. The Knicks were also among the few teams where his skills fit the best.
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