NBA Trades: 7 Karl-Anthony Towns deals the Timberwolves must consider

The Minnesota Timberwolves 2023–23 season was many things, but boring it was not. They struggled early on, then rebounded nicely, only to then implode during the final game of the regular season. As a result, it comes as no surprise that the Timberwolves are reportedly considering moving on from all-star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, according to Bleacher Reports Eric Pincus.

After the disastrous Rudy Gobert trade and the emergence of all-star Anthony Edwards, who’s just 21, it seemed inevitable that Minnesota would eventually look to move Towns. Although he can’t officially be moved until July 7th, 2023, after signing a four-year, $224 million extension, the upcoming NBA Draft might be the best time for the Timberwolves to agree to trade him.

After all, there are several teams that could be chomping at the bit to land a star such as Towns, especially with him locked into a long-term contract. Assuming that Minnesota is actively looking to move Towns, they could be hoping for the inverse of the Gobert trade after they notoriously overpaid for him.

That may be unlikely, although a potential bidding war could drive up the trade return, resulting in a similar haul of promising young players and a ton of picks for Towns. With that, let’s take a look at 7 teams that could trade for Towns, starting with a team that could look to cash in their considerable assets to land him.

NBA Trades: The Oklahoma City Thunder cash in their assets to land Towns.

After hoarding an unprecedented number of draft picks, the Oklahoma City Thunder could finally begin to cash them in this summer. The Thunder overachieved this season thanks to the stellar play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who helped them make the play-in tournament after many expected them to be terrible.

Now, they could look to get serious about winning by pairing Towns with Gilgeous-Alexander. The Wolves would likely require two of Josh Giddey, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, as well as a couple of those first-round picks back in a theoretical trade. Based on that, perhaps Holmgren, Williams, and two firsts of the Wolves’ choosing might be enough to get them to offload Towns.

Not having Holmgren play a single game for the Thunder would be disappointing, but it would be worth it for them to put Towns with Gilgeous-Alexander. On the other hand, Minnesota would get the former number 2 overall pick as well as Williams, who exceeded expectations as a rookie.

Factor in that Minnesota would save $21 million next season and much more going forward with Holmgren and Williams being on rookie-scale deals for the next three years, and the deal may be difficult for them to turn down.

NBA Trades: The New York Knicks (finally) land a star in this Towns trade.

The New York Knicks famously struck out on their pursuit of star Donovan Mitchell last summer, but they could be well-positioned to acquire Towns this summer. The Knicks have most of their first-round picks going forward, as well as several that they received from the Thunder. As a result, the Knicks could offer more than what they offered the Utah Jazz to ensure they close the deal.

A package of RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickly, and two firsts for Towns might be enough for the Knicks to finally land a star via trade. The Knicks’ hypothetical trade package would help restock Minnesota’s depleted draft pick stockpile as well as provide them with several solid young pieces.

Quickley would give the Wolves a potential starting point guard, giving them a more long-term option at the position than Mike Conley, a 35-year-old free agent. Barrett had a down season, but at just 22, he still managed to put up solid numbers, averaging 19.5 points and 5 rebounds per game. He’ll be under contract for the next four years, giving the Wolves another high-scoring wing to put alongside Edwards for the near future.

Meanwhile, Toppin could be a cheap replacement at backup center for Naz Reid, who may not return next season. Those picks, including Washington’s 2023 first-round pick (top-14 protected in 2023 and top-10 in 2024 and 2025), and Milwaukee’s top-four protected 2025 first, might make Minnesota tempted to actually trade Towns to the Knicks.

NBA Trades: The San Antonio Spurs make a win-now move for Towns.

The Spurs probably seem like an unlikely option to trade for Towns, but they might be one of the best-positioned teams to do so. After landing the number one pick in this year’s draft, they will select Victor Wembanyama first overall, putting the team on the clock to try and build around their new superstar. They could start immediately by making a blockbuster trade for Town.

With the Spurs likely to play Wembanyama at power forward to start his career, they could look to upgrade from Zach Collins (who played quite well last season) by acquiring Towns. With Towns under contract for four more seasons, the Spurs would probably be comfortable making an uncharacteristically big trade and speeding up their rebuild to win now.

They have plenty of picks and the young talent needed to get a deal done, though they almost certainly wouldn’t offer anything near what the Timberwolves offered the Jazz for Gobert. A possible trade package could include Collins, Keldon Johnson, and two lightly protected first-round selections via Toronto, and Chicago, each of which could be lottery picks.

That deal would allow the Wolves to recoup some of the assets lost in the aforementioned trade, give them two starters, and increase their flexibility to build around Edwards. For the Spurs, they’d get an established star to pair with their own while still preserving most of the draft assets to continue to build around them later.

NBA Trades: The Atlanta Hawks acquire Towns from the Timberwolves.

According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, the Atlanta Hawks are open to moving all-star Dejounte Murray. That could open up the possibility of a Minnesota-Atlanta swap this summer. The Timberwolves are in need of an upgrade at point guard, and Murray would definitely provide that.

He is known for his defensive ability and rebounding, as well as his improved offensive output. He is among the better mid-range shooters in the NBA, allowing him to create consistently for himself. Murray is also a terrific pick-and-roll playmaker, though he also showed that he could off-ball while another star created.

That could make him a good fit for the Wolves since he would be playing alongside Edwards. Collins has been off and on the trading block for years now and could finally be moved in a deal for Towns, giving the Wolves a replacement power forward. Although he is not nearly as good and is owed an eye-popping $78.3 over the next three seasons, he can knock down threes and is a terrific athlete who found success with Murray in the pick-and-roll.

Considering his contract and that Murray is on an expiring deal, Minnesota could ask for picks as well. Atlanta traded several picks to acquire Murray, limiting their remaining assets, but they can trade the 15th pick in this year’s draft as well as a top-14 protected 2024 first-round pick from the Kings. If that were the case, then Minnesota could justify moving Towns to Atlanta.

NBA Trades: The Houston Rockets acquire Towns from the Timberwolves.

The Houston Rockets’ rebuild post-James Harden has been a hot mess, to say the least. Since he was traded in January 2021, the Rockets have won just 24.7% of their games. Even worse, they are 0-3 when it comes to landing the number one pick. While Jalen Green and Jabari Smith may turn into stars, the Rockets appear impatient and look to try and win now, starting with an ambitious free agency wish list.

That is headlined by trying to sign Harden back, and with Towns possibly available, they could go all-in on trading for him to try and lure Harden away from the Philadelphia 76ers. A possible trade could include both Green and Smith as well as the fourth pick in this year’s draft. Depending on what the Wolves are looking for in a trade for Towns, this could check some boxes.

The Wolves aren’t ready to compete for a title as is, and Edwards is only 21 years old while Jaden McDaniels is 22, so they can afford to take a step back if it means building a better team in a few seasons.

Green is also 21, Smith is 20, and whomever they take at four, including perhaps Amen Thompson, would still be a teenager. If even two of the three live up to being a high lottery pick, then the Wolves could be very good by the time teams like the Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, and Suns—pretty much most of the Pacific Division—have aged out of title contention. The 2028–29 season could be Minnesota’s year, were they to agree to a deal with Houston.

NBA Trades: The Toronto Raptors land Towns in a deal with the Timberwolves.

The Toronto Raptors find themselves at a bit of a crossroads. Despite a talented roster, they missed the playoffs and appear as though they are ready to press the reset button. However, Towns becoming available might get them to reconsider. With him under contract for at least the next four seasons, he has less say than he otherwise would in where he plays. That opens things up to teams such as the Raptors, who aren’t viewed as a destination among stars.

The Raptors toyed with the idea of trading OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam at the trade deadline, though after failing to make All-NBA, keeping Siakam may be harder. That makes him the most likely player to be included in a hypothetical deal between the Wolves and Raptors.

Siakam for Towns straight-up would give both teams a different look. For Toronto, they have several long and athletic wings, with Siakam being the best, but they have hit a wall, and Towns could change how they play for the better. Siakam could do the same for Minnesota, considering he is more versatile, even allowing the Timberwolves to play smaller and faster lineups that include him at center.

If the Timberwolves are looking to stay competitive in the short term, this is probably the move for them, though Minnesota would have to worry about retaining Siakam. However, they could agree to an extension before he hits free agency in 2024.

NBA Trades: The Portland Trail Blazers go all-in for Towns.

With Portland in the unenviable position of having to choose between building around their superstar Damian Lillard or trading him and tearing it down, Towns becoming available gives them an opportunity. The trade almost writes itself: Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and the 3rd pick in this year’s draft for Towns, with both franchises benefiting from the deal.

The Timberwolves could draft Scoot Henderson, who would give them a potential star to pair with their rising star, Edwards while being cost-controlled for four seasons. That means that his next contract would only kick in after Gobert’s ugly deal ends. In addition to the third pick, Simons is a sharpshooting guard who is coming off a career season and has three years remaining on an affordable contract.

Sharpe also showed a lot of promise as a high-leaping wing who is still on his rookie deal after being taken 7th overall in 2022. For Portland, they’d get an elusive co-star to pair with Lillard. Trading for him comes with the added benefit of giving the Blazers more time before having to worry about Lillard asking out.

At nearly 34, landing Towns could ensure that he retires as a Blazer and give their team a player that they could possibly build around post-Lilard. Although a trade with the Blazers wouldn’t net the Timberwolves an established star, it gives them plenty of flexibility and the possibility of drafting one.