The Golden State Warriors have returned to contention, and there’s no question that they have been a dominant team this year. They are currently the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 40-13 record.
Some contenders elect to do midseason moves in order to go all-in and try to win a championship. In this scenario, we see the Warriors send out some prospects and make an all-in move of their own for Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Golden State Warriors Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Jordan Poole, James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, 2022 first-round pick (GSW), 2022 second-round pick (TOR), 2025 first-round pick (GSW)
The Warriors Add A Big Man To The Roster And Create A Top-Tier Starting Lineup
One of the most notable holes in the Golden State Warriors’ roster currently is the lack of a top-tier big man. Trading for Karl-Anthony Towns would be one way to solve that problem. In this scenario, the above trade package would likely do the trick in terms of value, but the Warriors would still have to send out some salary filler to ensure the deal works, with Kevon Looney’s contract being able to do the trick.
Karl-Anthony Towns is well-known as the best shooting big man in the league. Currently, Towns is currently putting up 24.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 3.9 APG, while shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc. There is no doubt that he’d help the Warriors out offensively with his shooting, as well as giving them some more athleticism and size.
As far as centers go, Towns would definitely fit well on the Golden State Warriors roster. His shooting would allow the Warriors to surround Draymond Green with four shooters, taking advantage of his playmaking ability. He would also get plenty of easy looks at the rim and from beyond the arc due to the defensive attention that Stephen Curry commands. There would also be way less offensive pressure on Towns if he is a No. 2 or No. 3 offensive option on the Warriors.
Overall, acquiring Towns would definitely let the team make an all-in move while maintaining some flexibility for the future with Karl-Anthony Towns on the roster, as he is only 26 currently.
The Timberwolves Add More Talent That Fits Anthony Edwards’ Timeline
The Minnesota Timberwolves are currently the 7th seed in the Western Conference, despite having D’Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Anthony Edwards on the roster. Perhaps they could trade Karl-Anthony Towns and add better depth across the roster. None of the players in the trade package are better than Towns individually, but upgrading a lot of different positions could prove beneficial for the Timberwolves.
James Wiseman was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2020 Draft class, and thus far, he hasn’t had the time to develop offensively despite showing insane athleticism and shooting touch during his rookie year. Perhaps he would get more touches on the Timberwolves. Jonathan Kuminga is a dominant athlete on the wing, who has shown he is capable of slashing to the rim and finishing, while also playing good perimeter defense. Having Kuminga and Wiseman as a frontcourt who can grow with Anthony Edwards is far from the worst option.
Jordan Poole would get a starting role on the Minnesota Timberwolves. While he was forced to go to the bench with Klay Thompson’s return in Golden State, he would likely start in Minnesota. He has shown promising flashes as a three-level scorer and is currently averaging 16.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 3.4 APG this season. Moses Moody hasn’t had much playing time, but could eventually develop into a solid 3 and D wing in the NBA. The draft compensation would obviously consist of multiple picks to acquire a player of Towns’ caliber.
This trade would be solid for the Minnesota Timberwolves, as they would get some promising young players and surround Anthony Edwards with good players at every position. That young core could potentially grow together and develop into a scary team down the line.
