The Phoenix Suns have undergone a significant roster overhaul over the course of the offseason. By trading Kevin Durant and parting with Bradley Beal, the Suns have effectively restructured their core, positioning Jalen Green to be Devin Booker‘s running mate for the foreseeable future.
However, what if the Suns chose to switch things up further?
The current rumor mills have seen Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s name resurface after reports of a conversation with the New York Knicks in the offseason revived trade speculation. While Antetokounmpo has been adamant about his position with the Milwaukee Bucks, recent updates could present a scenario in which the superstar leaves in pursuit of a better opportunity to win.
With this in mind, facilitating a trade between the Knicks and the Bucks could be a challenge. Hence, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz presented a three-team trade idea, featuring Karl-Anthony Towns being moved to the Suns to fulfill this deal. Swartz wrote:
“It’s been 11 years since Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns were teammates at Kentucky, although the Phoenix Suns should be interested in a reunion now.”
“The Suns could be the third team in a hypothetical Giannis Antetokounmpo-to-New York trade (see the Knicks slide), with Towns headed to Phoenix and young talent like Jalen Green, Ryan Dunn, Khaman Maluach, and/or Mark Williams and picks going to the Milwaukee Bucks.”
“A team with Booker, Towns, Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and whatever is left over would at least be competitive in the West.”
Swartz’s trade proposal features several moving parts, but the notion of pairing Towns with Booker certainly has merit.
How Can The Suns Acquire Karl-Anthony Towns?
Formulating a trade package would certainly be a challenge since both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Karl-Anthony Towns have huge contracts. However, aligning with the outline provided by Swartz, here is a potential trade package that could facilitate this trade.
Proposed Trade Details
Phoenix Suns Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jalen Green, Mark Williams, Ryan Dunn, Pacome Dadiet, 2026 first-round pick (NYK via WAS), 2026 second-round pick (PHX via OKC, DAL, or PHI), 2028 second-round pick (NYK via IND or PHX)
The impact of the Knicks receiving Antetokounmpo is immediate. With one of the best players in the league joining one of the top-tier teams in the East, the Knicks would quickly become title favorites.
The notion of the forward being paired with a star like Jalen Brunson has a lot of potential. When additionally factoring in how well-suited Antetokounmpo is to New York’s up-tempo offense under Mike Brown, almost all the pieces fall into place.
In this regard, even the Milwaukee Bucks would be satisfied with this trade. With the acquisition of several young players, including a star-caliber guard in Jalen Green, the Bucks could effectively structure a rebuild with Green becoming the new franchise cornerstone.
Green has positioned himself as a reliable offensive force. At 23, the young guard averaged 21.0 points and 4.6 rebounds last season, shooting 42.3% from the field and 35.4% from three. On a rebuilding team, he would have the opportunity to develop as an all-around scoring threat, especially as he becomes the primary option on offense.
Along with Green, the Bucks would also acquire some solid rotation players such as Mark Williams, Ryan Dunn, and Pacome Dadiet. Williams has been presented as an athletic big man with impressive rim protection ability.
Last season, the big man averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game on 60.4% shooting overall. Considering that Milwaukee would rely on Myles Turner to anchor their frontcourt after this hypothetical trade, acquiring a center like Williams could be useful.
Both Dunn and Dadiet could be viewed as developmental projects for the Bucks, although Dunn had a comparatively better outing than Dadiet last season.
Dunn has been projected as an elite wing defender. Although he has been considered limited offensively, if he is capable of improving his shot from the outside, the 22-year-old could become a reliable 3-and-D player. He averaged 6.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, shooting 43.0% from the floor and 31.1% from three-point range last season.
Meanwhile, Dadiet could be on the way out of New York, as the Knicks gauge his value in the trade market. Although he received very little playing time during the 2024-25 season, resulting in an average of 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds per game, the forward has impressed the Knicks’ coaching staff with his athleticism and offensive upside. Although his decision-making has been criticized, he could be worth developing as a rotation player purely due to his versatility.
Factoring the player assets in along with the haul of draft picks in this deal, the Bucks could also view such a trade idea favorably, although it may not be enough for them to part with Antetokounmpo.
Finally, this trade could have a lot of merit for the Phoenix Suns. Aside from the reunion between two Kentucky Wildcats, pairing Booker and Towns could be significant in transforming Phoenix into a more competitive team in the West.
Karl-Anthony Towns could be considered one of the best big men in the NBA today. Although he has been criticized for his defensive shortcomings, he is an undeniably gifted offensive player.
Last season, he averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds on 52.6% shooting overall and 42.0% from three-point range. Considering his efficiency with shooting the ball from deep, the 29-year-old could safely be considered one of the best floor-spacing big men in the league, too.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ acquisition could be quite favorable for the Suns. Considering that they are in the process of retooling, the franchise has yet to embrace an identity. By pairing Towns with Booker, the Suns would welcome a new era with a tandem that has the potential to be a threat to some of the top teams in the West.
Could Such A Deal Work?
On paper, this trade proposal has a lot of merit for the teams involved, especially the Bucks, who would have all the assets to kickstart a rebuild. Realistically, however, this trade may not work.
For the Knicks, while acquiring Antetokounmpo would be a dream, they have invested a significant amount in their current core, including Karl-Anthony Towns. While a swap deal would still allow them to replace Towns’ impact, Antetokounmpo may not gel as well at this stage, primarily due to his ball-dominant play style conflicting with Brunson’s role as the primary ball-handler.
For the Bucks, parting with a superstar like Antetokounmpo would require a lot more in terms of overall compensation. While Jalen Green and Mark Williams still have upside, Milwaukee may demand more assets to help with their rebuild.
For the Suns, pairing Karl-Anthony Towns with Devin Booker is quite promising. Unfortunately, to do so, they would be required to part with a huge chunk of their roster, effectively reducing their depth further. Without the guarantee of a playoff berth in the West, such a trade may be too risky. Hence, gradually retooling around Booker with young talent may be wiser than pulling the trigger on a star acquisition.
