Exclusive | Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns trade gives them slight bump in NBA Finals outlook
Karl-Anthony Towns is a slight boon to the Knicks’ NBA Finals chances, oddsmakers tell The Post.The Knicks moved to +500 on BetRivers Sportsbook, the second-highest odds of any team in the NBA, behind only the Boston Celtics (+300).
Meanwhile, ESPN BET tells The Post that the Knicks are in pole position for one of the top seeds in the NBA.“We’ve had some movement in Knicks championship winner, conference winner and win totals following the trade news on Friday night,” an ESPN BET sportsbook trader told The Post.“KAT’s scoring ability and versatility as a big man fills a gap for the Knicks, enhancing the overall offense on what is already a very good team.
If Towns can replicate his form from last season’s playoffs, the Knicks should be highly seeded and able to run with any team in a playoff series/”ESPN BET added that the Knicks’ win total moved from 53.5 to 54.5 with significant -130 juice on the over.A 54.5 total win projection is the third-highest total in the NBA, behind only the Celtics (58.5) and Thunder (56.5).
New York moved from +800 to +700 with the news of the Knicks’ acquisition of Towns.There has since been some buyback on the Knicks as they’ve settled back in at +750, tied with the 76ers for the second-best.
Philadelphia had long been considered the offseason’s winner when it rid itself of James Harden and miraculously signed Paul George with available cap space.That conversation has clearly opened back up, as Towns, a New Jersey native, is added alongside fellow trade acquisition Mikal Bridges.
The Knicks’ final offseason tally of newcomers appears likely to end with Towns, Bridges, Cameron Payne and Marcus Morris Sr.In the last year, the Knicks have traded RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, other supporting role players and a bevy of draft capital as they arm themselves for the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
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