Knicks shied away from trade for three-time All-Star due to 'onerous' salary

"What I had heard was that the salary, some people felt that the salary was just too onerous, at least at this point," Begley said. "They've felt that the salary was going to really hurt them later in his deal."

"But listen, I think obviously this dynamic can change at the drop of a dime," Begley continued. "I do think though, that if they loved the idea of Towns right now, they could've had him. That's just my kind of read on the landscape in general."

Towns, 27, will earn $36 million this season, the final year of the $190 million deal he signed in 2018. However, he signed a four-year, $224 million supermax extension with Minnesota last offseason, which goes into effect at the start of the 2024-25 season. 

During his age-31 season, Towns will make $64.9 million should he opt into his player option, so it's understandable why the Knicks are skeptical about acquiring the three-time All-Star. 

New York was also reluctant to trade for Clippers star Paul George despite holding conversations with Los Angeles around the time of the draft, according to HoopHype's Michael Scotto. Negotiations stalled as the Clippers' asking price of RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier and three first-round picks was too high for the Knicks to agree to.

It's clear that while the Knicks are seeking another star, the front office is content waiting for the right deal as it continues to build a culture the organization has lacked for so long. In the meantime, the Knicks will monitor the free agent market in the hopes of landing a veteran big man, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.