The Minnesota Timberwolves, fresh from an exhilarating NBA playoff run that saw them reach the Western Conference Finals before falling to the Dallas Mavericks, are now under intense scrutiny.
With Anthony Edwards emerging as the franchise’s cornerstone, the team faces significant financial challenges that have not gone unnoticed by other NBA franchises, particularly the New York Knicks.
According to NBA insider Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, the Knicks are “100% expected” to pursue Karl-Anthony Towns if the Timberwolves decide to entertain trade offers for him. Towns is set to enter the second year of a four-year, $221 million contract signed in 2022.
Despite being ousted from the playoffs due to numerous injuries to key players, including Julius Randle, the Knicks are keen on bolstering their roster.
The potential addition of Towns is particularly compelling given that Leon Rose, the Knicks’ president, once served as Towns’ agent at CAA, and Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks’ head coach, previously coached Towns in Minnesota.
Towns had a solid regular season, averaging 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, with shooting percentages of 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from three-point range. In the postseason, he maintained respectable numbers with 19.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, shooting 46.6% overall and 36.1% from beyond the arc.
A move to New York could be appealing for Towns, a New Jersey native, offering him the chance to team up with Jalen Brunson and bring much-needed offensive prowess to the Knicks.
The Timberwolves’ financial situation is precarious, exacerbated by the looming salary increases for Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. This has made Towns a potential trade candidate.
The recent Collective Bargaining Agreement has imposed more stringent luxury tax implications, making it increasingly difficult for teams with high payrolls to maintain a competitive roster.
An anonymous Eastern Conference general manager highlighted the Timberwolves’ predicament, stating, “That team is in flux. They want to keep building off what they did this year, but they just can’t afford it. So, I would think it is 100% expected that if they move on from him when the dust settles, the Knicks are going to be there.”
The Timberwolves’ aggressive moves in recent years have led to their current financial constraints, with Edwards’ five-year, $204 million extension and Gobert’s five-year, $205 million contract from the Utah Jazz straining their salary cap.
As the Knicks look to make a significant offseason acquisition, the Timberwolves’ situation remains a critical one to watch.
Whether or not a deal for Towns materializes, New York appears ready to take advantage of any opportunity to enhance their roster and make a deeper playoff run next season.
