By trading Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks challenge Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy

Now the Knicks have taken some tips from the Celtics and acquired a big, more floor-spacing player who has moved the centers away from the basket and become even more effective offensively with more shots. It’s unclear whether Towns, who has yet to prove he can be a No. 1 option on a championship-caliber team, will be up to the challenge of leading the Knicks to prosperity.

Jalen Brunson is the team’s most effective player, but Towns is a former overall pick, but his standing with the Timberwolves has slipped at times during the playoffs. In the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks last spring, Towns shot 37.9 percent from the field and 24.2 percent from the three-point line.

Despite having more experience and being the top pick, Towns was happy to relinquish primary scoring responsibility to Anthony Edwards. He doesn’t have to be New York’s first option, but there are nights when he will need to lead the team forward offensively and become a defensive factor.

One thing Randle has never been afraid of is making bold decisions or trying to take the moment to the next level. Towns has the better game overall, but Randle was considered the tougher player.

The Celtics didn’t have much to say about the deal when asked before leaving for their preseason trip to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. They are worried about themselves. The Knicks aren’t the only team that has stepped up to the plate this offseason.

The 76ers added Paul George, Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond, who joined Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and could be considered slightly better prepared to face the Celtics than the Knicks.

Losing DiVincenzo could have a bigger impact on the Knicks than expected. He was an outstanding three-point shooter last season and worked with Brunson in the backcourt to give the Knicks two quality finishing scorers. After an injury to Mitchell Robinson that could cost him the first few months of the season, the Knicks were missing a quality center.

The initial plan was to play Randle at center and I hoped it would work out, but the Knicks had long been interested in Towns and saw an opportunity to acquire a legitimate big man while also moving on from Randle, who was looking for a long-term contract extension, but the club had no intention of making this investment.

The Celtics have struggled to defend Randle over the years due to his physicality and three-point shooting ability. He’s stronger than anyone they’ve had in the paint, except probably Al Horford. Towns is more of a finesse center who can attack, but also takes pride in his perimeter play.

When the Timberwolves acquired Rudy Gobert, Towns moved into a more comfortable role on the court, where he is shooting a career 39.8% three-point shot. His ability to keep bigs away from the basket will certainly create lanes for Brunson, but it will also put more pressure on players like Anunoby and Josh Hart to rebound.

Towns was a high rebounder early in his career, averaging over 12 in three of his first four seasons, but that number dipped to 8.3 last season, which is low for a legitimate 7-footer. Part of that had to do with Gobert’s presence, but part of it was also due to Towns’ willingness to play away from the basket and play more fine-grained basketball.

Towns’ relocation to the city makes the Knicks a more versatile team offensively, but reduces their durability. Randle and DiVincenzo brought some grit to the court, but the Knicks’ playoff run last season without Randle encouraged management to make this deal. It was unclear how Randle would react to being the No. 2 option behind Brunson, but he will certainly have that role in Minnesota behind Edwards.

The Celtics are not afraid of any team from the Eastern Conference. They have enough depth in midfield to compensate for the loss of Kristaps Porzingis in the short term. They are bringing back all the key players from last season’s team, while coach Joe Mazzulla has started training camp with a strict schedule to remind his players that the upcoming season will be more difficult than the last because they are considered the favorites.

The Knicks haven’t won a championship since 1973 and this may be their best chance in 52 years, but acquiring Towns is a calculated risk not only because it cost them Randle and DiVincenzo, but it also changed their personality. Much will be expected of Towns on the league’s biggest stage, and he could determine whether the Knicks see the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals later this spring.

Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.