The NBA offseason has started slowing down after the first week of free agency, as most teams have figured out the rosters they want to build. Despite that, teams are still at work in the trade market to see what players might be available.
Ian Begley went on Zach Lowe’s podcast and revealed that the Minnesota Timberwolves have had conversations around Karl-Anthony Towns being moved, even though those talks never materialized.
“There were talks between the Timberwolves and other teams before the draft and Towns’ name came up. I don’t know how aggressive the Timberwolves were with Towns, if at all.”
KAT has been mentioned as a possible trade chip for the Wolves this summer after Anthony Edwards has emerged as a bonafide No. 1 option. With the lack of roster maneuverability due to the Rudy Gobert contract and the assets they gave up to get him, moving Towns for a big haul might be their best course of action to start building around Edwards.
KAT spent the majority of last season injured and averaged 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 29 games.
Is Towns The Superstar The Knicks Have Been Looking For?
During the podcast, Begley revealed that the Knicks had shown interest in KAT before backing out of talks due to the long-term max contract he received last summer.
“What I had heard was that the salary, some people felt that the salary was just too onerous, at least at this point… They felt that the salary was going to really hurt them later in his deal. But listen, I think obviously this dynamic can change at the drop of a dime. I do think though that if they could if they loved the idea of Towns right now, they could’ve had him. That’s just my kind of read on the landscape in general. So I think that tells you that they don’t see him as the ultimate fix for everything, or the player to take them to the next step, no questions asked.”
KAT is making just $36 million in 2023-24, but his extension kicks in from next season and nets him $234 million over four seasons. KAT will be entitled to $64.9 million in the final year of the contract in 2027-28, a big chunk of change to tie up into a player who’s never progressed beyond the first round.
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