An NBA executive believes the New York Knicks made a big mistake last offseason.
After losing to the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals in six games, the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau as head coach and hired former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown. Thibodeau led New York to the conference finals for the first time since 2000 and went 226-174 in the regular season and 24-23 in the playoffs. He also won the 2020-21 Coach of the Year Award.
Instead of firing Thibodeau, one NBA executive believes the Knicks should have kept the two-time Coach of the Year and traded Karl-Anthony Towns instead.
“The Knicks made a huge mistake by firing Thibs,” the NBA executive told Ahn Fire Digital. “They should have traded KAT and kept Thibs. They have no structure or discipline without Thibs. KAT’s defense has been abysmal this season because Thibs isn’t there yelling at him and forcing him to play with effort.
“If New York wants to turn its season around, they have to trade KAT before the deadline. He’s not a winning player and never has been.”
Knicks owner James Dolan met with his players after the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, and Towns was one of the key players who complained about Thibodeau, sources said. Thibodeau coached Towns on the Minnesota Timberwolves and the two didn’t have a good relationship in Minnesota either, sources said.
Ironically enough, Towns and Brown don’t have a good relationship either, sources said.
The Knicks dropped to 25-18 after losing to the Dallas Mavericks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Shortly after the loss, Steve Popper of Newsday reported that New York has discussed a Towns trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets.
Towns is making $53.1 million this season. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can’t stop the Knicks from trading him.
A five-time All-Star, Towns is averaging 21.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game this season. He’s shooting a career-low 46.7 percent from the field.
