Karl-Anthony Towns vs Lauri Markkanen

Lauri Markkanen scored more in 2025-26, 6.6 points a game apart (26.7 vs 20.1), on Markkanen's heavier usage (26.9% vs 25.1%).

Towns is the more efficient scorer by true shooting, 61.9% to 60.8%; TS% folds threes and free throws into one number, so the gap survives shot-diet differences.

Playmaking goes to Towns (3.0 vs 2.1 assists), the glass to Towns (11.9 vs 6.9 rebounds).

Availability is part of the comparison: Towns played 33 more games (75 vs 42 of 82).

With Towns on the floor his team outscored opponents by +7.0 per 100 possessions, against -1.5 for Markkanen; on-court net rating carries the teammates with it, so read it next to PIE.

On the books for 2026-27: Towns $57.1M through 2027-28, Markkanen $46.1M through 2028-29. Whether either fits a trade is a Trade Machine question, not a stat one.