When Karl-Anthony Towns traversed some 1,500 miles from his hometown of Piscataway to Minneapolis back in 2015, he did so as a bundle of emotions. Fresh off of a Final Four heartbreak at the hands of Wisconsin, on one hand, the No. 1 Draft Pick/Kentucky star was looking for the perfect amount of “adversity” to prove himself. However, as a 19-year-old entering the big league for the first time, Towns admitted he felt “very nervous”, too. That’s when he came across a lanky Spaniard who almost felt like family.

As a young man in his fourth year within the Timberwolves system, Ricky Rubio did what he had to do—take Towns under his wing and familiarize him with the place he’d call home from now on. “The first person that welcomed me into Minnesota was Ricky. He…just showed me around the city. Drove me around the city, showing me spots I should know about and just really welcomed me to Minnesota and made me feel comfortable,” the New York Knicks player had admitted. In fact, Rubio would often take him to Stella’s Fish Cafe in the city that became a sanctuary for the duo.

“We were on the rooftop just talking. Ended up being one of my favorite restaurants for many years. It was all because of him,” Towns recalled. “The food is great, but it was just that moment of having Ricky Rubio, someone who from far away I was a fan and watched play, was mesmerized by his passing ability and his game, it was crazy he was going to be my teammate,” Towns had commented. Unfortunately, those days are long gone. Though Rubio returned to Minnesota for a second stint in 2020, and though some fans would hope for Towns’ return, too, for a third union, for a while that was not a possible reality anymore. However…

While the veteran stepped away from the NBA citing mental health issues last year, looks like he’s not done yet. But before we tell you about that, let’s look at what ex-teammate Towns had to say about the good news. The New York Knicks star recently took to his official Instagram account and put up a story to be viewed by his 4.4 million followers. It highlighted a picture of Towns in his Timberwolves gear, with Ricky Rubio, also in his Timberwolves jersey, standing beside him. Towns added a caption alongside the picture that read “Incredible journey @ruuufio (raised fist emoji). Enjoy this next chapter!” What next chapter?

Well, on June 4, the 34-year-old took to X to make an interesting announcement. Captioned, “… I took this year to reflect on my career and my life, and I’ve realized that if I’ve gotten to where I am today, it’s not because of the assists I’ve given, but because of the assists I’ve received. This isn’t a goodbye, it’s a thank you to all the people who have helped me along the way,” the post included a long gratitude message that certainly reeked of a final goodbye.

Just a day later, Rubio clarified that it is in fact “not a farewell. It’s just a thank you”. What that means? Well, we don’t know yet. Maybe Rubio could come back to the NBA for a third reunion after all.

Having said that, with his mentor/friend deciding his future, Towns would be compelled to also question what the future holds for him.

Will Karl-Anthony Towns be traded to the Chicago Bulls?

“Trading KAT should be priority #1 for the Knicks”. This post on X by NBA reporter Kevin O’Connor was just one among many, circulating after the New York Knicks were eliminated from the ongoing tournament. The team certainly came far this season, making it to the Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. Unfortunately, the Indiana Pacers did not let them get further than that. Someone had to take the blame after the elimination, and it fell on Towns. After all, despite his impressive average score in the playoffs, his defensive abilities failed to keep Tyrese Haliburton in check. Furthermore, being traded to the Knicks only in the last off-season, he won’t be missed as much as the other veterans. Therefore, it didn’t take long for suggestions to come up about Towns’ new home.

A few days ago, Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell put out a proposal about a 3-team trade. The same would send Karl-Anthony Towns to the Chicago Bulls. On top of that, the Bulls would also receive Terance Mann, Kobe Bufkin, Pacome Dadiet, and a 2027 second-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks. In exchange, the New York Knicks will get Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, Lonzo Ball, and a 2026 first-round pick via Chicago. Atlanta would acquire Ayo Dosunmu.

Seeing Towns wear the white and red of Michael Jordan’s former team would certainly be a welcome sight. The trade could certainly prove beneficial for the Bulls, which continues living in the shadow of the glory days of the Jordan era. After all, they get an elite offensive player to pair with Josh Giddey (if he is brought back) and Matas Buzelis. The Bulls reportedly have a lot of expiring deals, which they could make use of to make an offer for Towns, who is currently under a 4-year, $220.44 million contract, with a player option available for the 2027-28 season. In exchange, the Knicks would get depth, some relief on the financial front that can be used to get a better defensive player, and a 1st round pick as well.

At the same time, it seems unlikely that the Knicks would trade Karl-Anthony Towns just a year after trading him for Julius Randle. The team already made a major change in the aftermath of the elimination by firing head coach Tom Thibodeau. Another drastic action, right after they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, might not come off well. The proposed trade gives depth, but not enough high-end rotation talent.

In the end, it all depends on the direction the Knicks choose to take. Both fans and Towns might be worrying about what might happen shortly. Fortunately, Towns can always call up his mentor for advice.