It’s a new day, and that means that the Minnesota Timberwolves will almost certainly have more trade scenarios to fight through once more. While the Timberwolves front office has offered next to nothing in terms of clues over whether this team has any interest in actually trading away PF Karl-Anthony Towns, the doorbell continues to ring, and a new NBA rumor or NBA trade scenario salesperson is there, with a new trade proposal, that is meant to provoke a thoughtful discussion at a minimum.
But occasionally there is more to the Timberwolves trade scenario to warrant more than casual conversation. In the case of one such trade scenario proffered by FanSided contributor Lior Lambert, the Minnesota Timberwolves should consider trading PF Karl-Anthony Towns to the Charlotte Hornets for a combination of picks/players. Furthermore, in his review of this trade package, Swam and Sting’s James Mastrucci gives the trade scenario two thumbs up.
Hornets are buzzing
So what is making the Hornets blogger buzz this morning?
It’s a trade package that sends Karl-Anthony Towns to the Charlotte Hornets, while sending a pair of future first-round draft picks (with protections) and a pair of players to the Minnesota Timberwolves. So what does this trade scenario look like?
For the most basic tests, this trade scenario could happen. But now the question is, would it? Or perhaps even more importantly, should it?
That is a question that Swarm and Sting contributor James Mastrucci has already given his two thumbs up of approval to. But that does not necessarily translate into any recommendations to pursue by the Minnesota Timberwolves from us. So let’s take a look:
Reasons To Pursue
If the Minnesota Timberwolves truly believe that their future NBA Draft picks need to be restocked, this could be an option. Do the Timberwolves really want to get the Utah Jazz band back together? If so, this would accomplish that too. Timberwolves Rudy Gobert and Hornets Gordon Hayward had a history as both players competed for the Utah Jazz.
Rookie SG Nick Smith Jr. is a late first-round selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, and he played rather well for the Hornets in the 2023 NBA Summer League. He could join the Timberwolves rookie class of 2023 F Leonard Miller and SG Jaylen Clark to cement the future of the Timberwolves.
Back to the future
The Timberwolves do not get much immediate help in this trade scenario. But one of the virtues of this trade package is the opportunity that the trade creates for younger players on the Timberwolves roster who would suddenly have a significant role and playing time to absorb. In fact, we had already identified 5 players who could fill KAT’s void at the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline.
With the addition of a first-round pick in 2025 and 2027, the Timberwolves could do a seamless reset of their roster to an even more future-focused nature. After all, rookie contracts are deliciously inexpensive compared to veteran NBA counterparts. But that is due to the fact that rookies are far riskier in terms of how successful rookies become in the NBA.
The Charlotte Hornets have plenty of incentive to pursue this trade as it would immediately bestow one more NBA All-Star on the Hornets roster. The question is, what about the Timberwolves roster?
Reasons To Pass
The presumptive background for almost all Timberwolves’ rumors or trade scenarios seems to start with the expectation that the Minnesota Timberwolves must shed Karl-Anthony Towns under duress. That is the stain of irrationality that is impossible to ignore in the incessant supply of trade rumors and scenarios, a blemish that triggers an almost automatic reflex reaction.
Either there is some form of prologue that cites the unaffordability of both Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns on the Timberwolves roster, or a naive conclusion that 29 games out of Towns over the entire 2022-23 NBA season is proof beyond a shadow of a doubt that the pair cannot coincide on the basketball court together. The reality is that the Minnesota Timberwolves job is not finished.
Hornets are buzzing, but Wolves are howling
I get why the Hornets would love this trade scenario. The cost of the Hornets roster drops by $2 million, while the number of projected victories improves by two games. But for the Timberwolves, they take on more money and drop in projected wins, minutes played, defense, and most of all, offense.
Gordan Hayward is a seasoned NBA veteran who had his peak years ago, and is currently on the wane and significantly overpaid for what he delivers on the basketball court. Nick Smith Jr. is an untested rookie who will try to compete for playing time on the Timberwolves roster that is already incredibly deep at shooting guard. And let’s face it, he won’t pry any time away from Timberwolves young All-Star shooting guard, Anthony Edwards.
Final Verdict: Pass
Picks are not valuable in isolation. Ultimately, NBA Draft picks are scratch ’em lottery tickets. You give away a known value in the hopes of gaining value via a future NBA Draft prospect. But the Hornets get a proven NBA All-Star at his peak while giving away a player on the decline, an untested rookie whose ceiling is likely to be a rotational player, and two first-round draft picks with far too much protection to make them worth anything more than more rotational players in the future.
If you buy into the belief that the Minnesota Timberwolves must do something quickly to shed Karl-Anthony Towns, then you may believe this is the best that the Timberwolves can do. But if you are not, then the decision to pass is the only logical option.