The Minnesota Timberwolves could trade All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns this summer, according to NBA insider Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
In July 2022, Towns signed a four-year, $224.2 million designated veteran player extension with Minnesota.
“The Timberwolves had high expectations when it acquired Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz (for significant draft capital) that it would be a strong playoff contender. Instead, they had to fight through the play-in to lose to the Denver Nuggets in the first round,” Pincus wrote. “The new rules don’t favor Minnesota, with Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels extension eligible this summer. Edwards is believed to be seeking a max deal (and many around the league believe he’ll get it), and McDaniels is likely seeking closer to a $25-30 million starting salary.”
“The team won’t be able to afford that, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Gobert combining for over $90 million in 2024-25,” Pincus explained. “Dealing Gobert will not return anything close to what the Timberwolves paid to Utah. Other competing executives think Karl-Anthony Towns will be long gone ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. Some even believe Minnesota would jump at an opportunity in the next few weeks.”
Towns averaged 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists this season for the Timberwolves while shooting 49.5% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc and 87.4% from the free-throw line. KAT, a three-time All-Star, only played in 29 games due to a serious calf injury.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Minnesota lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games. Towns and Rudy Gobert weren’t a good fit together in the frontcourt.
While Towns is a better player than Gobert, the Timberwolves gave up a lot of draft picks to acquire Gobert from the Utah Jazz, so moving on from him would be a disaster optics-wise.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Towns has career averages of 23.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He will make $36 million next season.
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