Report: Timberwolves Have Been Trying to Trade Karl-Anthony Towns for Years

By    |  
Updated:
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off arguably their best season in franchise history, and while it didn’t result in the desired NBA Championship, the core of Chris Finch’s squad looks to be formidable. What pieces of that remain intact for the upcoming year are uncertain, but and a lot of that uncertainty surrounds Karl-Anthony Towns.

With issues surrounding the luxury tax, and just how much of a tax bill ownership is willing to pay, Karl-Anthony Towns continues to be a name speculated about on the trade market. But according Charley Walters (Pioneer Press), it isn’t just this offseason that his services have been available.

Minnesota Timberwolves have been shopping Karl-Anthony Towns for years

In his Sunday column, Walters reports that “people who know said the Timberwolves in 2021-22 and 2022-23 tried to trade Karl-Anthony Towns, but to no avail.” This isn’t a huge surprise, but is at least eyebrow raising, given all the rumors that are circulating this offseason. The question may not be so much about whether or not the Wolves would move him, but rather, can they move him?

While it’s true that Towns elevated his game, even adding some defense to his arsenal. Still, if the Timberwolves are going to shuffle their roster due to luxury tax implications, then Towns remains the most logical asset to move… if they can find a taker, which clearly has been an issue.

Will a Karl-Anthony Towns suitor emerge for the Minnesota Timberwolves?

It will take a relatively perfect situation for Tim Connelly to find a suitor for Towns this offseason after he has failed to do so in recent years. Towns was able to show a better level of restraint on the court this year, but he wilted substantially during the Western Conference Finals and he is more expensive than ever.

Related: Swaggy P Implores Timberwolves to Run it Back

An acquiring team would need to believe in his regular season performance, trust that he can be better in the playoffs, and also be willing to pay a $50 million per year contract.

There are some reasons to believe a swap for Kevin Durant in Phoenix could make a lot of sense, and Towns would then pair with his former Kentucky Wildcats teammate Devin Booker. We’ve also heard him attached to the New York Knicks over and over again throughout the course of his career, too.

Related: Glen Taylor Expects Wolves to Run It Back with Towns, Gobert and Tim Connelly

Of course, Towns told reporters at the end of the season that he expects to be back in Minnesota next year. We’ll find out soon enough if he is right, but until then, this storyline isn’t going away any time soon.

Mentioned in this article:

More About: