The basketball season isn’t over but the NBA and much of its following probably feels like it is. Viewership numbers continue to fall and now LeBron James is out of the playoffs after a game-6 1st round knockout by Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.
Let’s talk more important matters, though… like Minnesota Timberwolves trade rumors. That’s usually a more enjoyable exercise for Wolves’ fans, though it may not be the case today. On ESPN’s First Take Friday morning, Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman were discussing the likelihood that Damian Lillard stays in Portland long term, after he sent some cryptic tweets Thursday following his own playoff elimination.
That’s when Stephen A Smith received a text message he felt compelled to read on-air. It was apparently from someone who “has incredible credibility when it comes to basketball”. Well, that incredibly credible person mentioned Karl-Anthony Towns joining Lillard in Portland.
Here’s the exchange.
"I just got a text from somebody … and they mentioned to me Karl-Anthony Towns maybe in Portland."
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 4, 2021
???? @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/Lnpcf0sUEp
I don’t know who this “nameless” insider is, who texted Stephen A Smith, but the back and forth felt more like a speculative pipedream than it did actual steam. But this is something we’ll have to get used to when it comes to KAT.
That’s not all bad. It’s clear that Karl-Anthony Towns is building his rep back up within NBA circles. When rattling off Trailblazer players it would take to pry KAT from the Wolves, Smith led off with both Yusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum, just to get the conversation started. That perked my interest, slightly.
Now, Karl has emphatically stated his intent to win with the Minnesota Timberwolves and I believe there’s ZERO chance Rosas trades him away before the start of next season. But, it’s nice to see his stock rising, if nothing else.
Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan