Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns ‘could be traded in coming weeks with teammate Anthony Edwards’ massive contract extension looming’
- Towns is a free agent after the 2024 season, but Minny may have other priorities
- T-Wolves paid big for Rudy Gobert, need to extend Anthony Edwards
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Is Karl-Anthony Towns on his way to Minnesota?
The former first overall pick is expected to be ‘long gone’ before the 2024-25 season, and some rival executives say the Timberwolves could trade him in the coming weeks, according to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus.
From the Timberwolves’ perspective, the problem lies in the impending contract extensions for the team’s young talents: Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.
While Edwards is expected to land a max contract, or something close to it, the versatile McDaniels is looking for between $25 million and $30 million per season, Pincus reports. And that poses serious luxury tax problems for a middle team that owes a combined $77 million to Towns and Rudy Gobert next season.
Towns will be a free agent after 2024, when the 27-year-old is expected to command another maximum or near-maximum salary.
Cities (right) could be dealt with by Minnesota, which still has to extend Anthony Edwards (left)
And given his dwindling production (both his scoring and rebounds were down in 2022-23 with the arrival of Gobert and the development of Edwards), it’s Towns who may be on the way out in Minnesota. .
Gobert, meanwhile, owes $130 million over the next three seasons, and that was only part of the cost of acquiring the former Utah Defensive Player of the Year before last season. .
In a deal that was widely rejected by Timberwolves fans, the team also traded five players, including promising rookie Walker Kessler, and a whopping five future first-round picks.
Rudy Gobert (left) and Jaden McDaniels (right) could make it difficult for Minny to keep Towns
Pincus names the Houston Rockets as a potential destination for Towns, suggesting he could be paired with James Harden, who is apparently considering a return to East Texas.
The Timberwolves need a point guard, several of whom are available in the upcoming draft, namely Scoot Henderson.
The problem is that Henderson is likely to be taken in the top three picks and the Rockets hold the fourth, so another team may need to be involved if a deal is to be made for Towns.
The San Antonio Spurs have the first pick and will no doubt take 7-foot-4 Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, while the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers are second and third, where Alabama’s Henderson and Brandon Miller are likely to to be taken away.
