- The Philadelphia 76ers would land Karl-Anthony Towns in this proposed trade
- Karl-Anthony Towns can keep the 76ers competitive even without James Harden
- The Minnesota Timberwolves would get younger with Tyrese Maxey
The Philadelphia 76ers are a team with an uncertain future as of right now, as they are currently dealing with James Harden’s trade request. The guard is clearly unhappy with the franchise, and it is clear that, eventually, he will get moved. Many have speculated that if the guard leaves, Joel Embiid could follow suit and request a trade.
The way that the Philadelphia 76ers could prevent Joel Embiid from requesting a trade is by acquiring a star-level basketball player who fits his timeline and ensures the team remains competitive. This proposed trade gets the team a former All-NBA player in Karl-Anthony Towns.
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey
There is no doubt that this trade could be a smart move for the Philadelphia 76ers, and give them a difference-making talent. Here is why the team 76ers and the Minnesota Timberwolves should have this deal on their radar.
The 76ers Create The Best Frontcourt In The League
In the modern NBA, we don’t frequently see two-big lineups, as the game has moved more towards a pace and space style. With that being said, we have seen some two-big lineups thrive if the bigs have complementary skill sets. For example, the Cleveland Cavaliers won 52 games last season with a frontcourt featuring Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. That shows that it is possible to have success with that strategy.
In theory, Karl-Anthony Towns is the perfect frontcourt partner to pair with Joel Embiid if the team decides to go big. He is the best 3PT shooting big man in the league, which means that playing him at PF won’t affect a team’s spacing. Last season, Towns averaged 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists for the Timberwolves, while shooting 36.6 % from 3PT range. He profiles as a great No. 2 option behind Joel Embiid, offensively, and has some ability to get his own shot. Though Towns isn’t necessarily an elite rim protector, Joel Embiid should have that department covered. The duo would create a massive rebounding advantage for the Philadelphia 76ers, and they would be well-equipped to play against smaller teams in the Eastern Conference such as the Miami Heat.
In this trade scenario, the key player that the Philadelphia 76ers would have to send out is Tyrese Maxey, who is the team’s best young player. Though he is clearly a great guard, it could be in the 76ers’ best interest to get a more proven star like Towns, instead of taking a chance on Maxey’s development. Tobias Harris would comprise the salary-matching portion of this deal.
If the Philadelphia 76ers manage to make this deal and then flip James Harden for some guards/forwards, they could become a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference. There is no doubt that they would have the best frontcourt in the league, and perhaps it is time for the team to try something different to get over the hump.
The Minnesota Timberwolves Reset Their Timeline And Go Younger
There is no doubt that the Minnesota Timberwolves’ primary goal right now should be to build around Anthony Edwards. The team has spent a lot of assets in the Rudy Gobert trade and has a lot of cap space tied up in him and Karl-Anthony Towns. Perhaps the right move is to move one of them and become a younger team.
Tyrese Maxey is the key draw of this package, and he is obviously a young guard with high potential. Last season, Maxey showcased that he can be a highly efficient player, averaging 20.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game for the 76ers while shooting 43.4% from 3PT range. He should be a great fit in the backcourt with Anthony Edwards, and playing on the Timberwolves should allow him to expand his game further as a true point guard, rather than playing off of James Harden.
Tobias Harris is on an expiring contract, but he could still contribute for the Philadelphia 76ers immediately, and would likely take the starting PF position next to Rudy Gobert. He would provide a two-way presence on the team, and his veteran experience could be useful for the young players on the team. Last season, Tobias Harris averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 38.9% from 3PT range. The team could also potentially try to re-sign him at the end of the 2023-24 season, and there’s no doubt that Harris is a role player who can play a role on a contending team.
This could be a solid deal that allows the Philadelphia 76ers to pivot to a different direction. This deal lets them get younger and acquire an elite backcourt mate for Anthony Edwards that matches up with his timeline, and this a move with the long-term vision in mind.
This Could Be A Good Deal For Both The 76ers And The Timberwolves
There is no doubt that this could end up being a win-win deal for the 76ers and the Timberwolves. The 76ers are a franchise that wants to win immediately, and getting a veteran star like Karl-Anthony Towns makes sense from their perspective. The team needs to prove to Joel Embiid that they are serious about winning a championship, and getting Towns is the way to do so. The Minnesota Timberwolves meanwhile, would move out from Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract, and allow them to go in a different direction by acquiring Tyrese Maxey.
It remains to be seen if the Philadelphia 76ers and the Minnesota Timberwolves will end up coming together on a deal with this framework. This is a trade that makes sense from both teams’ standpoint, and we’ll see what happens in the future.
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