Knicks Trade Rumors Swirl As Losing Streak Grows

The New York Knicks, once riding high atop the Eastern Conference, now find themselves at a crossroads as the 2025-26 NBA season hits its midway point. Just a few weeks ago, fans at Madison Square Garden were brimming with hope, their team boasting a 23-9 record and looking every bit the contender. Fast forward to January 20, 2026, and the mood has shifted dramatically—New York has dropped nine of its last 11 games, their record slipping to 25-18, and the restless home crowd is making their frustrations known.

So, what’s gone wrong for the Knicks, and where do they go from here? The answer isn’t straightforward. Despite persistent trade rumors swirling around Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby, the franchise appears hesitant to pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal. According to a January 20 report originally published on Hoops Hype, the Knicks are "not looking to do a deal involving Karl-Anthony Towns" nor are they seeking to move Mikal Bridges at this time. Even with speculation about Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially becoming available, New York’s front office seems intent on sticking with its current core—for now.

But patience is wearing thin, both inside and outside the organization. The Knicks’ recent slide has exposed some deep flaws in the roster construction, and with the NBA trade deadline looming, calls for decisive action are growing louder. James L. Edwards of The Athletic didn’t mince words in his recent column, arguing, "The Knicks have to be proactive. The sample is large enough now to suggest this team just might not work." He pointed out that first-year head coach Mike Brown, who took the helm this season, is not to blame for the team’s struggles. "He didn’t sign Guerschon Yabusele with their minimal financial flexibility this offseason. He didn’t trade five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges or trade part of their identity for Karl-Anthony Towns. Brown isn’t the reason Towns is having the worst shooting efficiency of his career at the rim and from 3 (when you factor in the volume)," Edwards wrote.

Indeed, the Knicks’ issues seem to run deeper than coaching. While Jalen Brunson—one of the few untouchables on the roster—had masked some of the team’s shortcomings earlier in the year, his recent absence due to a minor ankle injury coincided with a further dip in form. Even his return, along with that of Josh Hart, wasn’t enough to spark a turnaround in their most recent outing. In a demoralizing loss to the Dallas Mavericks, a team missing eight players due to injury, the Knicks surrendered 75 points in the first half alone and never seriously threatened to get back into the contest.

The home fans had seen enough. For the first time this season, boos rained down from the stands, a clear sign that the honeymoon period for this roster is over. Josh Hart didn’t sugarcoat his assessment after the game, admitting, "I haven’t seen this kind of effort that we had today. It was embarrassing." Towns, who has struggled mightily with his shooting efficiency, added, "Fans are doing their part and we’ve got to do our part." The message was echoed by coach Brown, who revealed he didn’t even bother with strategy at halftime, instead acknowledging that the team’s soul-searching should have started weeks ago. "That process will instead ‘start tomorrow,’" he told reporters.

It’s a sobering reality for a franchise that invested heavily in this roster last offseason. The Knicks’ front office, led by Leon Rose, pushed their chips in by acquiring Towns and Bridges, giving up significant draft capital and salary cap flexibility in the process. The idea was to build a defensive-minded, versatile squad capable of competing with the NBA’s elite. For a while, it looked like the plan was working. But as the season has worn on, cracks have started to show—particularly on the offensive end, where Towns’ struggles have been glaring, and the team’s depth has been tested by injuries and inconsistent play.

With the Knicks now sitting third in the East but just a game and a half clear of the Play-In seeds, the pressure is mounting. The NBA Cup curse—an odd trend where teams that make deep runs in the league’s new in-season tournament struggle afterward—has become a talking point, but the real concern is whether this group has the talent and chemistry to right the ship. Edwards, for one, believes drastic measures may be necessary: "So, whether it’s trading Towns to somewhere he feels more comfortable or one of the wings they’ve invested real money and draft capital in to be lockdown defenders, the Knicks need to do something."

Still, the front office remains cautious. The latest reporting suggests that unless a generational talent like Antetokounmpo becomes available, the Knicks are not actively shopping Towns, Bridges, or Anunoby. It’s a stance that reflects both a belief in the current roster’s potential and a reluctance to admit defeat on recent high-profile acquisitions. Trading Bridges, for example, would be a tacit admission that the five first-round picks sent to acquire him were a miscalculation. Moving Towns, meanwhile, would mean parting ways with a player they envisioned as a franchise cornerstone, despite his current slump.

For now, the Knicks are left with two options: hope that Brown’s promised soul-searching yields results, or pivot dramatically and shake up the roster before the trade deadline. The former approach would require improved effort and cohesion from a group that, according to Hart, has let its standards slip. The latter would mean taking a risk—potentially a big one—to salvage a season that’s threatening to spiral out of control.

As the second half of the NBA season begins, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Knicks’ faithful, long accustomed to disappointment, are desperate for a team that can deliver in the postseason. Whether this roster is capable of meeting those expectations remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the next few weeks will be pivotal in determining the direction of the franchise, both for this season and beyond.

For now, the Knicks remain in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, but with the trade deadline approaching and tensions rising, all eyes will be on Madison Square Garden to see if New York stands pat—or finally makes the big move so many are calling for.