How trading for Trae Young could help save the Minnesota Timberwolves
By Ethan Farina
![Feb 27, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) shoots against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie (behind) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports Feb 27, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) shoots against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie (behind) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9f04028b688f4c9721059c848e525fb2fdeb5a20df43ce6e3a511abcb1867056.jpg)
Time for the Minnesota Timberwolves to pull the plug on Karl-Anthony Towns
The Minnesota Timberwolves months’ long slog through the 2022-23 NBA season is finally over. After a surprising blockbuster trade for former Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert this past summer, there was optimism. The hope was that this could finally be the Wolves’ year to break out of the middle of the NBA Western Conference and assert themselves as legitimate title contenders. Those hopes were finally put to rest last night at the hands of the Denver Nuggets as the Nikola Jokic-led squad closed the door on a 4-1 first-round series victory over Minnesota.
There were bright spots this season.
Timberwolves’ SF Jaden McDaniels’ developed into one of the most versatile defensive wings in the league. PF Kyle Anderson made a steady but positive impact. And that trade at the NBA Trade Deadline for PG Mike Conley Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker finally started to bring more out of Gobert. But the single brightest star on this team continues to be the explosive development of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ most recent All-Star, shooting guard Anthony Edwards.
Anthony Edwards leads Timberwolves going forward
A career year helped Edwards, affectionately known as Ant-Man or A1, assert himself as one of the best young players in the NBA today. There aren’t many guys you would rather center your future around than him, he’s that good. But for the Wolves to take the next step, they need to completely focus on building around Edwards and that might mean moving on from veteran power forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Trading KAT isn’t something the Wolves should approach lightly. It’s the kind of deal that can make Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly look like a genius or a complete fool. While many already believe that he bungled the trade for Rudy Gobert, Connelly has to play his cards right if he wants to remain in good standing with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ new ownership.
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Thankfully, there is another superstar who could be looking for a new home this summer. Here’s why trading KAT for Trae Young could make sense for the Timberwolves.