Five Potential Trade Destinations For Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns is unhappy with the Minnesota Timberwolves. While a trade isn’t necessarily likely, it’s worth considering that the T-Wolves may not have a choice in the matter if Towns forces the franchise’s hand. That’s still a long way from actually happening, but it’s not an outlandish idea.

Adrian Wojnarowski has claimed Minnesota would likely get rid of everyone else (the front office and coach included) before Towns, but that stance might change if the team got overwhelmed by an offer.

Towns is 22 years old and is coming off an outstanding season. He averaged 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 blocks, while shooting career-best percentages from the field (54.5), 3-point range (42.1) and the free throw line (85.8). He also turned in a PER of 24.99, while posting career-highs in rebound rate (20.0) and true shooting percentage (64.6). He’s one of the NBA’s best all-around young players.

It’s worth noting that Towns can sign a five-year extension this summer, and that ability would pass to whichever team traded for him. He’s currently set to make just $7,839,435 in 2018-19 and is due a qualifying offer of $10,191,266 for 2019-20.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the most likely scenarios that could make the Timberwolves budge and move their young star. (One note, these trades have all been run through the various trade machines and do work out financially.)

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics have been chasing a trade for Anthony Davis for a long time now. With that move unlikely to happen, they could turn their attention to Towns, probably the closest thing to a Davis clone in the NBA.

Adding Towns would give Boston a solid rim-protector who can do pretty much everything on the floor. He’s a better, younger, more athletic version of Al Horford, who would have no issues sharing the floor with the veteran big man. Acquiring Towns wouldn’t be cheap though.

To get Towns, the Celtics would need to surrender their top two young players. Parting with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would be difficult, but worth it in the end. It would clear up the log-jam the team faces on the wing, especially with Gordon Hayward’s imminent return. The roster would be far more balanced and would have a foursome of Kyrie Irving, Hayward, Horford and Towns. Only the Warriors could match that group.

The 2019 first-round pick Boston owns from Memphis (top eight protected in 2019, top six protected in 2020 and unprotected in 2021) would also be thrown in.

For the Timberwolves, this deal would add a ton of firepower to an offense that could use it. Tatum and Brown are versatile wings that could team with Andrew Wiggins to create a dynamic young core. Jimmy Butler is a free agent after next season, so it would free the team up to move him if it wished.

Celtics get: Karl-Anthony Towns

Timberwolves get: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Memphis’ 2019 first-round pick

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns need to pair Devin Booker with another top-tier player if they want to get any traction as a franchise. Luckily they have a lot of young assets and the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft to barter with.

Booker and Towns would immediately become one of the best young duos in the NBA. With T.J. Warren as the team’s third option, the Suns would solidly be a playoff team in the Western Conference.

To get Towns, the Suns would have to give up a solid group of those young assets. That would start with 2017 first-round pick Josh Jackson, 2016 first-round pick Dragan Bender and the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.

This would be a great deal for the Timberwolves. Jackson’s ceiling is insanely high, but playing next to Booker could hurt his development. He’s a great two-way player who started to look better towards the end of his rookie year. Bender has a ton of potential, but could use a change of scenery. He’s a versatile big guy who needs more opportunities. And with the No. 1 pick, the T-Wolves could pick either DeAndre Ayton or Luka Doncic.

Yes, all of those young guys are a risk, but Minnesota would be stupid not to take that gamble. Meanwhile, the Suns need another star and Towns is on his way to being a top 10 player in the league. This deal makes sense for everyone involved.

Suns get: Karl-Anthony Towns

Timberwolves get: Dragan Bender, Josh Jackson, 1st pick in 2018 NBA Draft

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have been after a star for years and Towns would be that star. The franchise has diligently been working on a youth movement for the last few seasons and has some really intriguing pieces they could move for Towns.

Getting Lonzo Ball a running buddy while also bringing in another star to entice a big-name free agent to sign up would be a coup for Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. They could always keep all their young pieces and continue the rebuild, but Towns has superstar ability and it’s hard to pass that up.

In exchange, the Timberwolves would get an excellent package. Brandon Ingram looked like an All-Star at times during the 2017-18 season and has one of the highest ceilings in the NBA. Kyle Kuzma was a First Team All-Rookie selection after averaging 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his first season. Plus the Lakers have the 25th pick in the 2018 draft to throw on the pile.

The Timberwolves would come away with two incredibly talented and versatile young players and a first-rounder, while the Lakers would get the kind of star they’ve been hunting for years.

Lakers get: Karl-Anthony Towns

Timberwolves get: Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, 25th pick in 2018 NBA Draft

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are the NBA’s hot young team, but many (including myself) believe it’s going to take another piece for them to surpass the Celtics as the team of the future in the Eastern Conference. Enter Towns, who would add to an insane collection of talent.

Towns, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons would create the must-watch NBA trio. Young, tall, long, obscenely talented and versatile, those three guys could carry a franchise to multiple titles. Unfortunately, the Sixers would have to pay a heavy price to extract him. That said, they are well positioned to do so.

In this deal, Minnesota would take back 2017 No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz, former first-rounders Dario Saric and Furkan Korkmaz. Fultz will be 20 next season, so he obviously needs time to develop, but he managed to show flashes of being an elite combo-guard at times this season when healthy. Saric is a versatile 24-year-old forward who averaged 14.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this season. Korkmaz is a flashy 20-year-old wing with a ton of upside who needs a chance to play.

The teams would also have to swap first-round picks from this season, with No. 10 going to Minnesota and No. 20 going to Philly.

Sixers get: Karl-Anthony Towns, 20th pick in 2018 NBA Draft

Timberwolves get: Markelle Fultz, Dario Saric, Furkan Korkmaz, 10th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft

Sacramento Kings

Basketball Siberia would get some hope with this deal! The Sacramento Kings need a massive jolt to get their franchise moving in the right direction. Trading for Towns would be exactly that.

With De'Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the Kings have a solid, young — albeit inexperienced — backcourt. Now they need something real up front. Towns could match well with Fox as both Kentucky products play both ways and can get up and down the floor. It’d be a great point guard/post player combination.

In exchange, the Timberwolves would get Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stein, Harry Giles and the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

The 24-year-old Hield quietly had a nice season, scoring 13.5 points per game and hitting 43.1 percent of his 3-point shots. Cauley-Stein is a pure run-and-jump big man without much offensive skill, but he posted career-highs in points (12.8), rebounds (7.0), steals (1.1), minutes (28.0) and PER (17.61) this season.

Giles is a pure lottery ticket here. A high-upside prospect, he’s dealt with major injuries to both of his knees dating back to high school. He didn’t play after being the 20th pick in the 2017 draft, but if he ever gets on the court he could be a stud. He could also never wind up playing in the NBA.

In this scenario the teams would also swap their top picks, as Minnesota would send the 20th pick to Sacramento to balance things out.

Kings get: Karl-Anthony Towns, 20th pick in 2018 NBA Draft

Timberwolves get: Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stein, Harry Giles, 2nd pick in 2018 NBA Draft