Pass or Pursue: 3 potential Karl-Anthony Towns Timberwolves trades

Have you had enough of the NBA Rumors that seem to be pulled to the Minnesota Timberwolves like asteroids to the surface of a nearby planet? If your answer is yes, then I have some bad news for you. It’s not over just yet. They are everywhere.

The truth is that it’s almost impossible to avoid trade scenarios that name the Minnesota Timberwolves and star power forward/center Karl Anthony Towns. The setup for a trade scenario is too perfectly set up. Karl-Anthony Towns is a versatile NBA elite player who can move the needle on almost every team he would join.

And the consensus that the Timberwolves will be forced to trade him at the 2024 NBA Trade deadline is universally accepted that anything goes. I’m growing a bit more doubtful that any trade is a certainty. But for now, let’s just push a pin into that thought for a future discussion. For now, let’s address the fact that the Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be named in NBA rumors and as one of the teams involved in speculative NBA Trade scenarios.

The basic questions for any NBA Trade scenarios are:

1. I – Can the teams do it?
2. II – Does it make sense for the teams to do it?
3. III- Would a normal NBA GM make this trade for either team?

In most proposed NBA trades, the originator clears the first question and then stops there. But fans, with the exception of some of the more extremes found on social media, can detect when an NBA trade has enough value to both teams to reach the realm of possibility.

And that is the part that makes NBA trade scenarios so challenging. To construct one that can bridge the Win-Win test for reasonableness, the author must have better than a casual familiarity with all teams involved in that trade.

Trade Scenario III: Stephen A Smith – Julius Randle

The fact is that so many have thrown their hat into the ring in spitballing NBA Trade scenarios that it has become popular for everyone to take a stab at manufacturing a trade proposal.

And even ESPN’s Stephen A Smith is getting into the mix. While I personally never embrace Smith (or any talking head as legitimate sports news), we would be remiss if we did not explore this trade scenario. So, what does he propose?

Should the Timberwolves entertain a trade scenario in which the Timberwolves part ways with PF Karl-Anthony Towns with the return of Julius Randle? What would a trade like that look like? Well to make the dollars and sense work out, the exchange would likely take the shape of the following trade package:

Reasons to pass

At first blush, it appears as though the Timberwolves are getting a huge haul, but if you dive deeper into the players in this trade, you find that the Knicks are simply trying to significantly upgrade their post-season roster.  But the greater challenge for the Timberwolves in this exchange is the drop in defense.

If the Timberwolves are falling behind this season, does it make sense to further derail their playoff hopes in 2024 for the chance to regroup and try again the following season? It’s a solid reason to consider waiving this trade on its way.

Reasons to pursue

With fading hopes of holding the roster together and a secondary priority to get younger to build a compatible roster around All-Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards, the trade has several intriguing qualities not found in some of the other trade scenarios that have surfaced over the years.

This trade may improve the New York Knicks’ chances of winning games in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, but it gives a new lease on life for the Timberwolves’ future as a whole. Power forward Julius Randle has a more traditional 4 background, while PG Immanuel Quickley could evolve into a true point guard complement to Anthony Edwards. While the Timberwolves would only have a rotational role for R.J. Barrett, the team could even consider a secondary trade to add a stronger perimeter shooter.

Final Verdict: Pursue

Trade Scenario II: Thunder – Luguentz Dort

The Oklahoma City Thunder is most certainly a team on the rise. They snuck into the 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament and were ultimately stopped at the doorstep of the 2023 NBA Playoffs by a spirited effort from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This year, the Thunder expect to be even more competitive than before, with the return of a healthy Chet Holmgren, the team expects to be among the teams in the discussion for a 2024 NBA Playoff berth. The trick for the Thunder lies in the fact that this team is already competitive, and the team must pivot from asset acquisition to converting picks for top-tier players.

That translates into landing an NBA All-Star, and with a handful of draft picks, the obvious choice for their team is to pursue Minnesota Timberwolves C/PF Karl Anthony Towns. The trick of this exchange is that Davis Bertans cannot be traded until after August 21, 2023.

So what would this trade proposal look like?

Reason to pass

It’s never a wise decision to trade with a rival, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are certainly becoming a very dangerous one at that. The Thunder want to win now. Much like the trade scenario of the New York Knicks, the Thunder would be happy to dangle future draft picks to get the job done. But the Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to win now too.

Does Davis Bertans have quality play left in him? He was a rising NBA star for the Washington Wizards in 2019-2022, but his production and role have diminished significantly since. With huge question marks hanging over Bertains, the Timberwolves would be taking a huge and unnecessary risk in this trade proposal.

Reason to pursue

There is an illogical love for NBA Draft picks, and a lingering regret over the Timberwolves’ willingness to part with four picks for center Rudy Gobert has remained quite persistent. In fact, the focus of many NBA analysts seems to have pivoted from reporting on the TImberwolves objectively, and instead focusing on events to justify a national narrative for how foolish the Timberwolves were for trading picks away.

If picks are the name of the game, then a package of players and four first-round draft picks over the next four seasons is tough to pass up. The Timberwolves have the roster depth to absorb parting ways with Karl-Anthony Towns. But is that a decision this team should make:?

Final Verdict: Pass

Trade Scenario I: Clipper – Paul George

The Minnesota Timberwolves will generate a lot of interest from now until the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline. And many of the calls will be made to inquire as to the availability and asking price for Timberwolves All-Star veteran power forward Karl-Anthony Towns. While some teams will merely be asking to determine the fair market value, other teams will have a bonafide interest in acquiring Towns.  One such team could be the Los Angeles Clippers.

We know that the Clippers have to feel pretty good about their chances this season. They managed to add a very affordable Russell Westbrook to their duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.  But that combination did not help them advance in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. They have plenty of reasons to pursue a trade for Karl-Anthony Towns.

Okay, so let’s examine this third and final trade proposal.

So this trade scenario comes down to a player-for-player swap of Paul George for Karl-Anthony Towns and a trade for Kyle Anderson for a distant future first-round pick.

Reason to pass

Any trade that names both Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyle Anderson as outbound players in the same NBA Trade scenario is pretty risky business. It’s more than a speed bump, as it eliminates both a starting 4, a backup 5, a backup 3, and a backup 4 in one fell swoop. While veteran Paul George is certainly a player who brings plenty to the basketball court, you have to wonder how long can he sustain that level of performance.

I don’t see the Timberwolves giving much consideration to this scenario. The cost for the Timberwolves is too high and the return is too uncertain.

Reason to pursue

Do the Timberwolves need to part ways with Towns’ massive salary spike next season? Do the Timberwolves have any interest in adding draft picks? If the answer is yes to both questions, then this trade scenario could make some sense. How much sense depends on how desperate you believe the Minnesota Timberwolves are this season. I don’t think that the team is anywhere close to being desperate enough to try this route.

Final Verdict: Hard Pass