Though Karl-Anthony Towns had a respectable season, the Minnesota Timberwolves would be better off dealing him.
Following a disappointing Western Conference Finals exit to the lower-seeded Dallas Mavericks and a looming $273 million payroll, anything short of a NBA Finals trip next season would be a letdown for Minnesota.
To reach the next stage, the Timberwolves must improve, as the margin for error is thin when trying to represent the loaded Western Conference. Towns (21.8 PPG and 8.3 RPG in 2023-24) decreases this margin, particularly in the playoffs.
Through 32 career playoff games, Towns has averaged 18.8 PPG on 46.8% shooting from the field compared to his career averages of 22.9 PPG on 52.4% shooting from the field.
Besides the offensive drop-off come playoff time, Towns is a liability due to his propensity to foul, often putting his team in tough spots. In nine of his 16 playoff games this spring, the big man had four or more fouls.
Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out of Game 4 on this play.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 29, 2024
Good or bad call?
pic.twitter.com/0CgILxl69G
The offensive struggles and foul rate in the posteason are unacceptable for a player slated to earn $49.3 million next season. The Timberwolves are also above the second tax apron with Towns' upcoming salary slot, giving them few avenues to improve.
Outside of Towns, the Timberwolves could also look to trade fellow big Rudy Gobert (14 PPG and 12.9 RPG in 2023-24), who is set to make $43.8 million next season. But Gobert's ability to alter shots in the key is too integral to Minnesota's success on defense and outweighs Towns' erratic offense.
If the Timberwolves were to move on from Towns, they already have an extremely viable in-house promotion they could make in Naz Reid (13.5 PPG), who could take over at starting power forward. Reid had brilliant offensive moments this season, but the 2024 NBA Sixth Man of the Year has also proved to be an extremely capable defender (in the Western Conference semifinals, he was instrumental in slowing Nikola Jokic.)
️ 6MOTY pic.twitter.com/yx6U0LU52K
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 7, 2024
Yet, as deep as the Timberwolves looked this playoff run, when Anthony Edwards wasn't hitting on the offensive end, they lacked a true secondary scorer on whom they could rely. Towns has shown he isn't that guy, so Minnesota must go get that guy.
Here are two secondary scoring options Minnesota could look to acquire this offseason:
Jimmy Butler | Miami Heat
The last time Butler (20.8 PPG) was in Minnesota, things did not end smoothly. However, much of Butler's concern was due to the presence of Towns and Andrew Wiggins, both of whom would not be there if Butler were to end up in a Timberwolves jersey again.
With Heat president Pat Riley expressing uncertainty about Butler's future with the organization, Minnesota should make a call, as the forward is just who the Timberwolves need. The Marquette product has proved to be an elite playoff performer, averaging 27.1 PPG in his past two playoff runs and leading the Heat to a pair of NBA Finals appearances.
Butler is under contract for the next two seasons, with a player option for 2025-26, per Spotrac.
DeMar DeRozan | Unrestricted free agent
If the Timberwolves strike out on Butler, swinging a sign-and-trade for DeRozan (24 PPG) should be an option. DeRozan likes the Chicago Bulls, but he said in April he wants to "just have the opportunity to win." The Bulls have not made the playoffs in either of the past two seasons.
DeRozan would provide the supplemental perimeter scoring Minnesota lacks and has no problem operating in crunch time, ranking second in clutch points to only Golden State Warriors great Stephen Curry this past season.
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The Chicago Bulls have made a concerted effort in the last year or so to get younger and not add much future salary to keep their books open. They let DeMar DeRozan walk in free agency, traded Zach LaVine midseason, and traded Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro to the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason. There are only two players remaining on the Bulls roster older than 28 years old: Jevon Carter and Nikola Vucevic. Carter doesn't have much value around the NBA with his $6.8 million salary, while Vucevic is 35 years old with a $20 million salary, which makes him hard to move. NBA insider Jake Vischer revealed on a Bleacher Report stream that "There hasn't been much of a market for Nikola Vucevic all along, dating back to last trade deadline. I think at this juncture, we're probably more likely to see a Nikola Vucevic buyout midseason than we are to see a trade." If the Bulls are only able to buy Vucevic out, it would be yet another example of poor asset management from this front office. They had trade offers for Vucevic a few years ago and decided not to take them, and they may now have to pay him to go away. It doesn't help that the Bulls traded Wendell Carter Jr. and two first-round picks, one of them becoming Franz Wagner, in order to get him. All of that to make the playoffs just once since Vucevic has been in Chicago. The Golden State Warriors were a team rumored to be interested in him at one point in time, but that interest has clearly cooled off.
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge missed Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies with an elbow injury, and the slugger is now headed to the injured list. The Yankees fell 9-4 to the Phillies on Saturday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., which marked their third consecutive loss. Judge played in Friday night's 12-5 loss to Philadelphia, but Aaron Boone announced before Saturday's game that Judge was dealing with an "elbow issue" and would sit out. Following his team's latest loss, Boone shared some new information about Judge's injury. Judge has been diagnosed with a flexor strain, but the Yankees believe he can return in less than two weeks. When Judge returns to the lineup, Boone said it will initially be as a designated hitter. Judge is having an outstanding season. He entered Saturday batting .342, which is the best mark in baseball. The reigning American League MVP has 37 home runs, 85 RBI and a 1.160 OPS. The Yankees are now six games behind the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays and fighting to remain atop the wild-card race. It goes without saying that they are hopeful Judge will be able to return as soon as possible.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have stumbled onto a hidden gem in rookie tight end JJ Galbreath, whose performance during training camp has made him impossible to ignore. With the roster loaded and competition steep across every position group, it’s usually difficult for an undrafted player to separate himself from the crowd, but Galbreath is doing exactly that, one practice at a time. The buzz started small, but it’s growing louder by the day, especially after the way Mark Kaboly described Galbreath’s early impression. On the July 26th, 2025 episode of Kaboly + Mack, Kaboly broke down what he's been seeing from Galbreath during training camp, noting that the tight end has consistently stood out despite entering as a relatively unknown player. Kaboly wasn’t going out of his way to track Galbreath. That’s what makes his performance all the more eye-catching, and Galbreath forced himself into the conversation. “You gotta keep an eye on him," Kaboly said. "He’s a guy you really notice during minicamp and the first day or two. That’s how you continue to tell who’s, I guess, you know, standing out because he’s noticeable. You’re not looking for JJ Galbreth.” That observation from Kaboly speaks volumes. When you're not trying to find a player, but still keep noticing them, it’s often the first sign that something special might be unfolding. Galbreath wasn’t brought in to be a headline, but he’s slowly turning into one. In a tight end room that already includes Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward, the road to a 53-man roster spot is steep, but standing out in July matters. Galbreath is making his name known the old-school way by producing. “Who’s 87? Then the next day, who’s 87? Boy, 87 made them a nice play," Kaboly stated. "Then all of a sudden, you realize this guy’s pretty good. I don’t know if he can make the 53-man, but he’s definitely a practice squad eligible type of guy, but they like him, so he does have some talent.” Kaboly’s commentary here gives us a look behind the curtain. That “who’s 87?” question being asked on consecutive days reflects exactly what happens when a player consistently performs above expectations. When multiple coaches and reporters begin identifying you by number, without being told to, you’re doing something right. For a franchise that’s built its identity on development and physicality, players like Galbreath have a real path to stick around even if it's not right away. The Steelers aren’t strangers to undrafted or overlooked players proving themselves during camp and earning long-term roles. That path might be in front of Galbreath, too. At 6’4” and 240 pounds, the rookie from the University of South Dakota has good size, soft hands, and a knack for making himself known in high-pressure reps. The Steelers’ offensive staff, led by Arthur Smith, will need dependable blockers and reliable targets as they work to revamp their scheme. If Galbreath can continue to shine in team periods and prove useful on special teams, a practice squad spot feels not just likely, but earned. The 53-man roster might be a long shot this early, but the fact that Galbreath is in the conversation tells you everything you need to know. The work ethic is there, the flashes are becoming frequent, and coaches are watching. Steelers Must Make Tough Choices at Tight End The Steelers’ tight end room is crowded, but injuries and evolving schemes always bring surprises. With Freiermuth and Smith cemented as the top two, it would take a strong preseason for Galbreath to edge out Heyward or Washington. But even if he lands on the practice squad, that’s a win because in Pittsburgh, that’s where real opportunities begin. Galbreath may not be a household name yet, but minicamp is where the grind starts. And he’s already proven he’s not just a camp body. Can Galbreath turn his early momentum into a long-term role with the Steelers, or will a loaded tight end room squeeze him out?
According to some, throw out the idea that the Edmonton Oilers should pursue Max Pacioretty. A veteran forward who has earned over $63 million over the course of his NHL career has yet to sign an NHL contract and was recently mentioned in a post by David Staples as a possible fit. In a recent post, the Journal noted, “All of the top NHL unrestricted free agents have already signed contracts, but there’s one big name player still available that makes good sense for the Edmonton Oilers to pursue.” Responses have been varied, with a few quite vocal about the Oilers not following Staples’ advice. “In what world does this make sense?????” writes a commenter on a recent post for The Hockey Writers. Another commenter wrote, “Pacioretty is a good journeyman player but he is injury prone now, late in his career. Oilers might be lucky to get 40 games out of him. They should look elsewhere instead of taking a chance on Patches.” Tyler Yaremchuk of Oilers Nation chimed in and said, “He scored five goals in 37 games last year with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can’t stay healthy, very old, very slow.” Yaremchuk then went on a rant, listing several Oilers forwards who would be better than Pacioretty. What About Pacioretty on a PTO? Is there any reason that a team that is looking to get younger and faster, and move out depth pieces that were older and less productive than expected, would revert back to last summer’s strategy? It seems like an odd choice on the surface. Something would have to happen that would make giving Pacioretty a look risk-free. That means only a PTO. Even at that point, should he agree, it would require him to be willing to sign a two-way contract for the league minimum.