Karl-Anthony Towns has long been one of the most underrated superstar caliber players in the league. All the numbers are there, he’s been an All-Star, and he is probably the best shooting center in the league. All the signs suggest that he is a superstar player, but he’s only been to the playoffs once during his career. The Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t been very good in recent memory, leading to Towns getting less attention at the national level from the media and fans.
There have been a lot of rumors that have swirled around Karl-Anthony Towns, and as we head into the offseason they are bound to pick up. Recently, Michael Scotto and Jon Krawczynsky talked about the possibility of Karl-Anthony Towns being traded. The two teams that were mentioned in the conversation were the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks.
Scotto: Other executives around the league have always felt the Knicks would try to land a star in this league that’s with CAA due to the ties Rose has from working there previously before he took the job with the Knicks. With the Knicks, they have the pieces to go out and try to get — it doesn’t have to be Towns, it could be another star. They’ve got Mitchell Robinson, a young center. They’ve got RJ Barrett, who’s a nice young player. They’ve got their draft picks if needed as well. For me, if Towns is on the trade block, I’d definitely look at the Knicks to be among several teams around the league who’ll make a pitch for him.
Krawczynski: Leon has a long relationship with Towns. He was Towns’ agent with Jessica Holt. Kenny Payne is on Thibodeau’s staff, and Towns and Payne are very close from their Kentucky days. Worldwide Wes. There are a lot of connections there. One interesting element to it would be the Thibodeau factor. He and Towns didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye when he was in Minnesota. It wasn’t like they were at each other’s throats or anything, but they were just never on the same page. It would be interesting to see how a reunion like that would work. I do know the Knicks fandom in the Towns family is real.
I don’t think the Knicks honestly have the assets to get him. I don’t think Barrett, Robinson, and whatever picks they’re going to have since they’re not going to be in the lottery will be good enough for Towns, who’s one of the best offensive players in the league and has three years left on his deal.
The team that I would watch is Golden State. That’s the team that maybe they need veterans around Steph Curry and not their young pieces and maybe lottery picks or things like that. Again, I don’t think that’s going to happen. I don’t think the Wolves are going to trade Towns.
Michael Scotto suggests that the New York Knicks could definitely target Towns if he is on the trade block, while Krawczynski mentions that Knicks president Leon Rose has a long relationship with Towns. Towns’ family are also Knicks fans: it is clear that there is a personal connection with the franchise, despite never playing there during his NBA career.
Krawczynski suggests the Golden State Warriors as a possibility as well, as they could send out a variety of young pieces and picks to try and acquire Karl-Anthony Towns. While he does mention that he doesn’t think it’s going to happen, there are probably scenarios where Towns could get traded. Anything can change in the NBA, and while it looks like Towns will likely stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the time being, that could be different in the future.
