The Knicks are sending draft picks and players to the Hornets to complete the Karl Anthony Towns trade

The New York Knicks faced significant salary complications when acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves, largely due to his massive contract. Towns is entering the first year of a four-year, $220.4 million veteran extension. His salary for the upcoming season will be capped at $49.2 million, resulting in a player option in the 2027-28 season worth $61 million.

A blockbuster trade in country towns

The Knicks made a bold move by making a blockbuster trade, sending Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota to complete the deal. However, a salary imbalance continued as incoming contracts exceeded outgoing contracts. In order for the trade to work, the Knicks had to adhere to the NBA's salary cap rules.

Knicks add additional pieces to complete deal

To balance the salary equation, the Knicks reportedly sent two second-round picks and three players — DaQuan Jeffries, Charlie Brown and Dwayne Washington Jr. — to complete the trade, via Sham Charania of The Athletic.

Jeffries, Brown and Washington have cap hits of $2.4 million, $2.2 million and $2.1 million, respectively, for a total salary of about $6.7 million. This was crucial to helping the Knicks stay within the salary cap when acquiring Towns.

The Charlotte Hornets' role in the deal

The Charlotte Hornets played a crucial role in facilitating the trade by taking over the contracts of the three Knicks players. In return, the Hornets received a pair of second-round picks from New York. This move helped New York complete the deal while also positioning Charlotte for potential future deals.

The trade also included an additional second-round pick from Minnesota being sent to the Hornets as part of the deal.

The Knicks' championship window

This move shows the Knicks are focused on capitalizing on their championship window and ending a 50-year title drought. Adding Towns to the roster greatly increases their chances of competing at the highest level in the NBA.

James Nnaji's addition

As part of the deal, the Knicks received James Nnaji, the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, from Charlotte. Nnaji is currently playing for Girona in the Spanish ACB league on loan from Barcelona. He's on a developmental path with potential to reach the NBA in the future, but the Knicks will likely allow him to continue his progress overseas for now.

Final thoughts

While the move to Karl-Anthony Towns came with significant salary hurdles, the Knicks successfully navigated the complications and signed a high-performing player. The deal required additional draft picks and players to make it work, but the Knicks are now clearly committed to competing for the championship. With Towns on board, the team has positioned itself for a stronger playoff run with the goal of breaking its decade-long title drought.