Hear me out.

I know this trade doesn’t help the jazz unless they have a perfect trade lined up for picks and assets.

For the Knicks here is why you would do this. Roster flexibility in two years instead of 4. Massive bench depth NOW. A rotation that even Thibs will fully utilize for once. Here is the Rotation, with both Kessler and Towns starting then staggering all center minutes afterwards. Starters minutes all drop by 5 mpg.
Brunson/Bridges/Hart/Towns/Kessler Payne/Kolek/Sexton/McBride/Shamet/Dadiet/Collins/Achiuwa/Sims/Hukporti