Former NBA champion Jeff Teague believes the New York Knicks should consider a major roster shakeup involving Karl-Anthony Towns in order to fix their recent defensive issues. The Knicks have gone 1-4 in their last five games, and their unexpected slump has exposed their weakness.
Jeff Teague Suggests Bold Karl-Anthony Towns Trade
Jeff Teague shared the idea during a recent episode of the Club520 podcast, where he suggested the Knicks explore a trade with the Miami Heat for center Bam Adebayo.
“I’ll call the Heat and ask them if they want to trade KAT for Bam,” Teague said. “Because obviously y’all don’t want to score him big. Clearly, because y’all don’t give him the ball.”
Teague continued by pointing to how Towns is currently being used in New York’s offense.
“They not throwing the ball on the block to KAT and KAT going crazy and doing his thing,” Teague said. “KAT are picking and popping. They’re not giving him touches. You might as well go get a playmaking big.”
Teague described Adebayo as a better fit for how the Knicks are playing right now, especially on the defensive end. He added that a defensive-minded and versatile center could help balance the roster.
The comments came during a rough stretch for the Knicks. After a strong start to the season, New York entered its game against the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 31 with a 23-9 record. The team then suffered a four-game losing streak, including the loss to San Antonio.
During that skid, the Knicks’ defense struggled badly. The lack of a strong point-of-attack defender stood out, allowing opposing guards to beat defenders off the dribble and force help in the paint. That breakdown often led to open shots and easy finishes near the basket.
The problems were especially clear in a Jan. 5 loss to the Detroit Pistons, who entered the game as the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons scored 52 points in the paint compared to the Knicks’ 34. New York also committed 20 turnovers and allowed 33 points off those mistakes. The Knicks finished the game with just 15 assists, while the Pistons had 25.
Defensive concerns around key players have been part of the discussion. Guards like Jalen Brunson and bigs like KAT have struggled to consistently stop quicker players, which has put added pressure on the team defense. When injuries thin the frontcourt depth, those issues become even more noticeable.
Despite the skid, the Knicks remain one of the top teams in the East. They snapped the losing streak with a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 7 and now hold a 24-13 record. New York is still second in the conference standings.
Bam Adebayo Can Solve Knicks Issues but Remains Committed To Heat
Teague believes a player like Adebayo could help address several weaknesses at once. Adebayo is known as one of the league’s best defenders at center. He can guard multiple positions, switch onto guards, and protect the rim. His mobility would help cover for defensive issues on the perimeter.
This season, Adebayo is averaging 16.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He is also contributing 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per contest. He is currently playing under a three-year, $161,352,000 contract with the Heat, which runs through 2028.
However, the idea of a trade appears unlikely. According to NBA insider Zach Lowe, Miami has made it clear it has no interest in trading Adebayo. The Heat view him as a cornerstone of their roster.
For now, the Knicks will continue forward with their current core. They will suit up against the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Jan. 9.