Minnesota Timberwolves won’t trade Karl-Anthony Towns to Trail Blazers

Have you heard the news? Lots of NBA teams think the Minnesota Timberwolves should trade superstar big man Karl-Anthony Towns.

It’s not new news, of course. And yes, it’s no surprise that nearly every team in the league would line up to bid on Towns if he was indeed available. He’s a multiple-time All-Star, the best shooting center we’ve ever seen, and just about to enter his prime years in the league.

But therein lies the catch. He isn’t available.

Minnesota Timberwolves won’t trade Karl-Anthony Towns to Trail Blazers

The latest “rumor” comes courtesy of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who did the “somebody” with “incredible credibility” mentioned the possibility of “Karl-Anthony Towns maybe in Portland”.

Here’s the clip from First Take:

So much to unpack here.

First, thank goodness that this source has “incredible credibility when it comes to basketball”, and not hockey or football or poker. Because, you know, Karl-Anthony Towns plays basketball.

Secondly … and stop me if you’ve heard this before … Towns is not a free agent. He won’t be until 2024. That’s three seasons from now.

Oh, and in case Stephen A. missed it, Towns also doesn’t want to leave Minnesota.

So … in what scenario is Towns in Portland in the next year outside of a visit for some wine tasting and eventually when the Wolves visit the Blazers?

The only possibility is a massive trade, but it would have to either A) include Damian Lillard, or B), include CJ McCollum and tons of draft picks.

Both Lillard’s and McCollum’s contracts would allow them to be traded straight-up for Towns. But neither will, because the Blazers wouldn’t consummate the former and the Wolves would not jump at the latter unless Portland added at least three first-round picks.

Also, consider the Wolves roster. If Towns is traded and another high-usage player comes back … is Minnesota going to run out a lineup of D’Angelo Russell, CJ McCollum, Malik Beasley, and Anthony Edwards? Roster balance matters and that cadre of guards would not exactly mesh well.

In other words, this is a nothing burger of a rumor, and everyone can go back to what they were doing previously. Even if the Wolves were interested in trading Towns, sending him to Portland simply doesn’t make sense.