Paul George thinks the Knicks ‘made a splash in an epic way’ with Karl-Anthony Towns trade

NASSAU, Bahamas — The rivalry between the 76ers and New York Knicks is one of the most storied in NBA history. And it may have gone up a notch after the Knicks acquired four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday in a three-team blockbuster trade, which included the Charlotte Hornets.

After re-signing OG Anunoby and acquiring Mikal Bridges to play alongside All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson, the Knicks remained one of the Eastern Conference’s biggest threats. But adding Towns to that trio put the franchise in championship-or-bust mode.

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Paul George, the Sixers’ top free-agent acquisition, initially joked on Friday that the Knicks made a “terrible” trade by sending Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves.

“Terrible! Terrible trade!” George said. “Karl is awful! He’s old. That was a bad trade to give up Julius for KAT! I’m kidding. Obviously, KAT is one of my closest friends. KAT is a good touch. I think it’s a win for a win to give up Julius for KAT.

Both of those guys are very, very skilled and very good.”

The addition of Towns gives the Knicks a bona fide center to compete with the Sixers and defending NBA champion Boston Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy.

Towns shot 41.6% from behind the three-point line last season and is a career 39.8% shooter from deep.

“I think for that group for what they do [his presence will] kind of give more space in that offense to thrive,” George said. “Obviously, KAT is one of the best three-point shooting bigs in the league, probably history of the league. I get the dynamic that they want it for.

“But it’s going to be interesting. Obviously, the Knicks are on the rise as well as ourselves and a couple of other teams in our league. So they definitely made a splash in an epic way.”

The Sixers were eliminated by the Knicks in six games during the first round of last season’s playoffs.

Sixers coach Nick Nurse said second-year swingman Ricky Council IV has been “really good” through four days of training camp here at Paradise Island.

“Again, you see a big jump up in the maturity level,” Nurse said Friday. “I think just the comfortability. He knows he belongs, all that kind of stuff. Listen, I talked to him yesterday. I needed him on the offensive glass. I need him running the floor really hard. I need him guarding really hard.

“And if somebody swings it around to him on a three-ball situation for him to take it and knock it down. Pretty much those four things.”

Nurse added that Council is really improving and has a chance to crack the rotation.

Council averaged 5.4 points in 9.0 minutes and shot 37.5% (12-of-32) on three-pointers in 32 games last season. He had career highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 119-113 victory over the Washington Wizards on Feb. 10 at Capital One Arena.

The 23-year-old started last season on a two-way contract. It was converted to a standard deal on April 13.