The New York Knicks have hit their season low point with back to back losses.
The widespread feeling from the Karl-Anthony Towns to New York Knicks trade is that the Minnesota Timberwolves were the losers.
Anthony Edwards tried to claim both teams won, even though the Minnesota Timberwolves have been staggeringly inconsistent, while the Knicks have been largely dominant.
Yet the Knicks’ 37-20 record is showing up as an illusion. They have lost every single game to the two sides in front of them in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics and Cavaliers.
They have just suffered back to back losses against both teams, with coach Tom Thibodeau coming under heavy criticism, especially related to his high minutes given to his starters.
Stephen A. Smith on Towns trade
Speaking via his YouTube channel, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith offered another perspective to the New York Knicks trade for Karl-Anthony Towns.
He said it was put to him that the Knicks traded away two players who were a fit for Thibodeau, acquiring a player who he wonders if he has the right personality.
Smith explains: “When the New York Knicks traded Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, even though they ain’t doing so great with that trade either, my friend said to me ‘the New York Knicks traded two dogs for a KAT.”
“That ___ hurt because Karl-Anthony Towns is a bad brother. He can play, and I’m happy to have him as a New York Knick. But when I see the personality transplant, the grit that was there last year, that is no longer there…
“See the New York Knicks last year. Don’t get blown out like they did this weekend. Them brothers were scrappy.
“When did we ever think we would see a Tom Thibodeau team have one of the worst defenses in basketball, and the absolute worst against the three point shot, when do we ever believe we would see that?
“I’m just asking legitimate question. There’s no way around it, we have to we have to pay attention to that.”
Julius Randle has been under pressure in Minnesota
Karl-Anthony Towns has been excellent for the Knicks, and it is unfair to blame him for the Knicks’ failure to beat the Celtics, even though he has been pointed to as a defensive weakness.
Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo are out of action currently through injury for Minnesota, working towards a potential return maybe later this week.
Both players would probably jump back to New York if they could. DiVincenzo made clear he was very unhappy to be traded when he was.
Randle has come in for heavy criticism, the latest with Bill Simmons claiming the Timberwolves are a better team without him.
He has a player option this summer, and it would not be a surprise if he is not on the team next year.
