Leon Rose's taking Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges trade risks paying off for Knicks

New York Post

21-05-2025

Three months apart, the Knicks pulled the trigger on two major offseason trades.
First, on June 25, they sent the Nets five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, reuniting him with college teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo.
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Then, on Sept. 27, came another big trade, the Knicks sending Julius Randle and DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns.
The moves involved risk, significant assets being dealt.
But when Leon Rose bit the bullet with those acquisitions, this is what he had in mind: The Knicks getting over their second-round hump, reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years.
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The transition wasn't seamless. It was an up-and-down regular season for Bridges.
Towns performed well, but hasn't been as productive in the postseason.
There were questions about this group's overall toughness entering the playoffs.
3 Mikal Bridges played a big role in the Knicks' second-round series win over the Celtics.
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When it has mattered most, however, the duo has come through.
They have thrived under pressure, both key contributors in the Knicks' wild run that has included fourth-quarter comebacks in seven of their eight wins in the playoffs.
'Any time you can do something special here in the city in New York, obviously it's magnified by five,' Towns said Tuesday, on the eve of Game 1 against the Pacers at the Garden. 'To find success here in New York is something that is not for everyone, and it's something that is very difficult to do. For us to be in this position shows that we stepped up to the challenge and [we also have] the benefit of having amazing teammates and support systems — both of us.'
3 Karl-Anthony Towns came up big in the Knicks' Game 6 series-clinching win over the Celtics.
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Bridges was terrific in the second-round upset of the Celtics, making the game-clinching defensive plays to cap rallies from 20 points down in Games 1 and 2, and exploding for 22 points in Game 6. Nobody is wondering if he was worth all those draft picks now.
'Talk about a confidence booster — that's a confidence booster,' Brunson said Tuesday on his 'The Roommates Show' podcast with Hart. 'Damn, we could have been playing Game 7 [if not for him].'
Towns enjoyed several strong moments against the Pistons in the first round, averaging 19.7 points, 10 rebounds and shooting 48 percent from 3-point range. He was at his best in the Game 6 clincher in the second round, keying a fast start with his aggression and physicality.
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Now, as the next round nears, the duo will be counted on immensely. Bridges is expected to defend Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton for large stretches. The Knicks are counting on Towns to build on his strong performance during the regular season against the Pacers when he averaged 30.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and shot 46.7 percent from 3-point range in three games. He will be facing Myles Turner, a big man who also spaces the floor and can do as much damage from beyond the arc as in the paint.
Towns' impact wasn't always there against the Celtics. He was at times a defensive liability on switches against Boston's high-usage All-Star wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
But he made big plays in crunch time of those two huge comeback victories to start the series, and after a shaky Game 5 performance, he responded with his most forceful effort of the playoffs, a 21-point, 12-rebound showing in 35 quality minutes.
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3 Leon Rose (left) congratulates Mikal Bridges after the Knicks' first-round series-clinching win over the Pistons.
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'I think for us, it was just attacking early,' Towns said. 'I feel like some of the games in the Boston series, we were easing into the game, seeing how they would change from game to game. I think Game 6 was the first time we came out of the gates making them have to react to us instead of us reacting to them, and it worked out really well for us.'
The trades have worked out well for the Knicks, too.
Bridges has hit his stride after that uneven regular season. Towns has been a difference-maker more often than not.
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The 7-footer has used the past few days to soak it all in, attending a Subway Series game and thinking about what it means to have this kind of success with his hometown team.
He won't let himself think about what the city would be like if the Knicks advance to the NBA Finals, because that's how you get beat.
But he wants to enjoy this moment as well.
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'There's still more work to do,' Towns said, 'but it's sometimes good to take a step back and appreciate where you're at and where you came from, and also understand where you still have to go.'