Latest reports from NBA executives suggest that Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns’ days in Minnesota are almost over.
NBA executives recently shared their views on how the league’s landscape will take shape starting this Summer, and most see Karl-Anthony Towns getting traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Reports of executives’ opinions from around the association is an annual occurrence, and their view of Towns’ security in Minnesota doesn’t come as the biggest shocker this year.
Towns has been heavily linked to the New York Knicks since training camp. Having played under Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau for four seasons in Minnesota, New York is a favored landing spot for the four-time All-Star. But why do the NBA’s top brass feel so strongly about Towns’ departure?
Behind-the-scenes knowledge from execs on Towns situation
The Knicks’ mutual interest in Towns is a backdrop that front office heads have used for their stance on the inevitable deal.
The Ringer’s Howard Beck revealed exactly what’s being said in inner circles following the several attempts Knicks president Leon Rose has made to test the waters on a Towns trade this season:
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“I think it happens this summer,” said one Western Conference executive.
The Knicks opted to trade for high-end supplementary pieces at the Feb. 8 trade deadline instead of going all in for Towns so their next opportunity will come in July. Should they be able to bring in the former 3-Point Contest champion, that’ll make good on the watchful eye they’ve had stemming from October of last year, per NBA Central on X:
The New York Knicks are monitoring Karl-Anthony Towns’ situation, per @SbondyNBA pic.twitter.com/jl9Y1nMbFT
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 14, 2023
Once their franchise player, Towns has been relegated to a secondary role on the team. Towns has taken a backseat to Wolves guard Anthony Edwards.
A trade might get the fire started on Towns’ side to seek a situation where he can re-emerge as a No. 1 option even with the rise of Jalen Brunson in the Big Apple.
Add this to the fact that Towns’ four-year, $224 million extension kicks in next season and what you have is a Wolves team that may look to avoid a fat tax bill if the current No. 1 seed in the Western Conference fails to make a deep playoff push come postseason time.
