Nick Wright explains why LeBron James-Karl-Anthony Towns trade can change game for New York Knicks

Time of India

5 days ago

Sportscaster Nick Wright recently took part in an in-depth discussion surrounding LeBron James' next stop and shared his viewpoint. On his podcast, 'What's Wright? With Nick Wright', he elaborated on all the factors that work in the New York Knicks' favor if they choose to trade Karl-Anthony Towns for LeBron James.
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From cost factor to strengthening the team's defense, he shed light on all the positive things that can happen with the trade for the Knicks.
Rumors about LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers are overflowing in NBA circles. Amidst these rumors, Wright's dissection of the LeBron-Towns trade can provide the Knicks the perspective they need to make a blockbuster trade decision.
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Retirement, player option, or new team? The buzz around LeBron James' next move refuses to slow down. Amidst all the murmur around the Los Angeles Lakers' superstar's future, Nick Wright has come up with his perspective. He elaborated on how the New York Knicks' decision to trade Karl-Anthony Towns for LeBron James can rejuvenate the organization. Talking about the pros, he said:
'The pros, in my opinion, are oddly by adding a guy in year 23, a 40 guy who's going to be 41, you actually get better defensively for two reasons.
One is it's more Mitchell Robinson minutes instead of Town. So that's definitive, you know, that helps you a lot defensively. But also, as LeBron showed last year, once they got Luca, if he's not the primary offensive creator, he still has the ability to be a good, not great defender like he once was, but a good defender if that's where he can put his energy.
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He further said: 'The other sneaky pro for the Knicks is, do they actually want to move towns before he's he wants this next mega extension when they traded all those picks for Bridges and you're going to have to extend him and you've already extended OG and you're obviously in the Jaylen Brunson business.'
LeBron James & Karl-Anthony Towns at play-in tournament (Image Source: Getty Images)
He further continued, 'Like does the fact that LeBron would be short term act is that actually a positive because you don't want to you know have the big money associated with Carl Anthony Towns when there are, I think, legitimate real concerns of if our two best players are Brunson and Towns are we good enough defensively ever to win four rounds. I think those are all real, legitimate discussions.'
Wright's thoughts largely revolved around the role LeBron can play in the New York Knicks, without the team needing to make a long-term commitment.
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Also, moving Karl-Anthony Towns can help the Knicks manage costs, as they have already signed hefty deals with Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges, per Basketball Network. He further moved to how it is the right time to make the deal, as the trade leading to LeBron moving to an Eastern Conference team can improve the Knicks' chances to win the title after 52 years.
Wright pinpointed, 'The Celtics are off the chessboard.
The Pacers are off the chessboard, and the Bucks don't know where they are on the chessboard. We're already the favorites in the conference. We haven't won a championship in 52 years.
What if we go for it (LeBron-Karl-Anthony trade)? It certainly is a worthy legitimate conversation, just like it.'
Here is Wright's complete discussion:
Nick Wright: Knicks should TRADE KAT to Lakers for LeBron James | What's Wright NBA
In the discussion, Wright also pulled out LeBron James' longtime agent Rich Paul's statement to ESPN, where he explained LeBron's mindset for the coming season. Rich Paul had told ESPN, as per Shams Charania's report dated June 29, 2025:
'LeBron wants to compete for a championship.
He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with [governor] Jeanie [Buss] and [general manager] Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.
We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.
He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive, and want what's best for him."
So, the trick right now lies in finding the correct team for LeBron James, which can help him have a ring before he hangs up his sneakers. And currently, the best win-win situation is possible to achieve with the LeBron James-Karl-Anthony Towns trade. According to Wright, the only con of the trade will be LeBron's age, who will be playing his season 23, and is about ten years older than Karl-Anthony Towns.
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If all factors as indicated by Wright are taken into consideration, James may consider exercising his player option and ask for a move to the Eastern Conference, with the New York Knicks as his next stop. Whether the trade will happen or not remains unclear till any negotiation moves are reported from either party.