3 reasons why Minnesota Timberwolves should trade Karl-Anthony Towns

3 reasons why the Timberwolves should trade Karl-Anthony Towns this summer

By Will Eudy | Apr 29, 2023

Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /

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Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Towns can be a defensive liability

With the 2022-23 season in the books, Karl-Anthony Towns will be entering next season heading into his ninth season in the NBA. He is a veteran through and through, and there are not many unanswered questions about who he is as a player at this point.

We all know what a unique offensive player he is. Towns’ mobility and ability to hit a step-back three or take a defender all the way to the cup is extremely rare for his size. It is the other side of the floor where he has had questions throughout his career.

Thankfully, he is coming off a series against the Denver Nuggets where he had some surprisingly good defensive stretches, and perhaps that bodes well for him as the Timberwolves weigh their options this summer. But as a whole, Towns has been an inconsistent defender at best in his eight years in the league.

Without super quick feet, KAT often struggles closing out jump shooters and he has never been a reliable rim protector in the paint. It is hard to find any player in the NBA as versatile as Towns, but Minnesota may be best served replacing him with a more defense-oriented off-ball player that would give Anthony Edwards even more free rein in the offense.

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