Reports Conflicted on Wolves’ Interest in Trading Karl-Anthony Towns This Summer

Karl-Anthony Towns trade rumors and ideas have been floated all over the internet and from legacy media outlets early this summer. Towns is scheduled to make $50 million per season starting in 2024-25, the same year they will have to start forking over big bucks to their ascending superstar, Anthony Edwards.

Bleacher Report: Wolves could trade Karl-Anthony Towns within a few weeks.

That pending financial reality, along with last year’s failed two-towers experiment with KAT and Rudy Gobert, have multiple sources telling Bleacher Report NFL cap strategist/insider, Eric Pincus, that Karl is sure to be traded before the start of the 2024-25 season, with some even believing he’ll be gone within the next few weeks, as the NBA Draft approaches.

The [Timberwolves] won’t be able to afford [Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels extensions], with Karl-Anthony Towns and Gobert combining for over $90 million in 2024-25. Dealing Gobert will not return anything close to what the Timberwolves paid to Utah. Other competing executives think Karl-Anthony Towns will be long gone ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Some even believe Minnesota would jump at an opportunity [to trade KAT] in the next few weeks. The team’s most significant need is a point guard to replace Mike Conley, who was very good for the team after a deadline deal (also with the Jazz) but will be 36 before the start of next season.

Eric Pincus – Bleacher Report

Doogie: Not so fast…

But not so fast, says local insider Darren Wolfson (KSTP and SKOR North) at the 06:10 mark of his latest “The Scoop” podcast episode. After Pincus’ report dropped on Friday, Doogie touched base with a couple of sources VERY high up in two organizations that would be interested in KAT should he indeed become available and both told him the Wolves have shown no interest in trading their 27-year-old big man.

“Eric [Pincus] is a cap-guru and really really good at what he does. He has plenty of league contacts. He put out there that he hears from some executives that anticipate the Wolves trading Karl-Anthony Towns this summer. Now hey, is that possible? Sure, I’m not ruling it out. But what I can tell you, in real time, is I’ve checked with two teams’ front office executives, pretty high up… in fact, very high up, that make logical sense. That, if the Wolves were to trade Karl-Anthony Towns; if they let the league know, ‘hey, we’re interested in trading Karl-Anthony Town, that these two teams, undoubtedly, would at least inquire. Well, these two executives told me, so far, crickets. They have not had any trade dialog with the Wolves. I’m just saying, right now in the moment, my sense is the Wolves run this thing back.”

Darren Wolfson – The Scoop Podcast (SKOR North)

After listening to Wolfson’s latest report, it still appears as if the Minnesota Timberwolves will hold onto Karl-Anthony Towns for the 2023-24 season, even if they do not plan on retaining his services beyond then.

But without a doubt, the offseason steam on KAT leaving this offseason continues to grow hotter. And remember, the 2022-23 NBA season hasn’t even come to completion yet, with Denver and Miami playing in game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan