Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns addressed trade speculation during an appearance on a podcast with former teammate Patrick Beverley.
“Future-wise, I see everyone is trying to sell my house but me,” Towns joked, which Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic explained is a reference to an erroneous report that Towns put his home on the market (Twitter link).
“I’m gonna keep it simple like this,” Towns added. “The rumors are as true or as false as Minnesota makes them to be.”
Trade rumors regarding Towns stem from his super-max extension, which will begin in the 2024/25 season. The deal has an estimated value of $224MM over four years and will place a financial strain on a team that has already committed big money to Rudy Gobert over the next three seasons and will likely be giving a hefty extension to Anthony Edwards this summer.
A recent story by Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report states that many rival executives believe Minnesota will trade Towns before the extension kicks in, with some speculating that the team will “jump at an opportunity” if one arises in the next few weeks.
There’s more on the Timberwolves:
- Towns also told Beverley that when he retires, “There’s gonna be people who are gonna say that I changed the game,” referring to his unique outside shooting ability for a big man. That prompted a Twitter response from Warriors forward Draymond Green, who wrote, “Aye @patbev21, when people come on yo show they change the game!!l?!? I’m looking forward to it man.”
- Gobert sent out a tweet congratulating the Nuggets after they wrapped up their first championship Monday night, but some people are interpreting it as a slight to the Jazz, per Chris Hine of The Star-Tribune. “Happy for the Nuggets, beautiful Team basketball all year around,” Gobert wrote. “Failed over and over in the previous years, didn’t quit on their guys. And Nikola Jokic will finally get the respect he deserves!” Utah traded away Gobert and Donovan Mitchell last summer after several years of its own playoff frustration.
- Former Thunder player Semaj Christon has parted ways with his European team and will join Minnesota for an upcoming free agent mini-camp, according to Cesare Milanti of Eurohoops. The 30-year-old point guard averaged 15.7 PPG this season with Derthona Basket in Italy. He played 64 games for Oklahoma City during the 2016/17 season.
Gobert is right. Hopefully the Celtics dont try to do anythig drastic. Run it back, it takes patience,
In a way, but I think Ainge was more correct. That team didn’t have the cohesion and clutch attitudes to win a title. The coach certainly didn’t help. Maybe with coach Malone?
Yup. Celtics still have plenty of work they can do around the margins. No need to blow things up yet. They will be fine.
KAT and Kyle Anderson for Trae Young and Okungwu
Atl then look to move Capela and build around Murray and KAT. Trae Young’s time is done in ATL to much inconsistency as a franchise and looks to be a problem in the locker room.
Capela and AJ Griffin for THJ and McGee.
Murray THJ Hunter Collins KAT
… Bogdan Bey Johnson McGee
Then all you need is a back up point guard.
For Minny, Trae Young ANT McDaniels and Gobert is your core. Trae is very poor defensively but Gobert is one of the league best defenders and will help cover him. Not to mention you have ANT and McDaniels. Offensively Trae gives you spacing, more ball handling and is also very good at feeding the centre with a healthy supply of lobs, so expect Gobert to have a good season.
Need to continue building out this team with the right personal. Need a third option on offence, need a steady locker room veteran leader, and then continue with adding young guys.
I’d suggest trying to trade Conely for Fouriner then bring in Pat Beverly, TJ Warren, Kevin Love and the other McDaniels brother via Free agency.
Trae ANT Warren McDaniels Gobert
Beverly Fouriner McDaniels Love Okungwu
McLaughlin Moore Minott
Not even PatBev, Gobert and McDaniels could be enough to mop up for Trae’s defence…
I disagree, look at how good those Jazz teams were with Gobert covering Spida Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson.
That was Gobert with next to no help on defence, you clear KAT away and tell him to just lock the paint up and run that defence he’s got you. Especially when you have guys as good as Bev McDaniels and ANT on the perimeter.
Offensively good luck stopping Trae and ANT. Trae has the handle and the bag of tricks. Hes not only got the 3 ball but he can extend deep with it. He’s amazing attacking the paint and finishing inside, he can lob the big man or dish it to the corners, give him space and he will put up a floater he’s so difficult to guard. Then you have ANT who’s becoming that give it to me I’ll get you a bucket type guy.
You have someone running the offence well, 2 elite scoring options and then multiple good/great defenders them your going to be a good team
I thought this might happen,
Gobert and Towns are redundant
The fit never made sense
Murray is a better PG than Young
Again the fit doesn’t make sense
KAT for Trae makes sense
Doesn’t solve the cap issues
But the salaries can line up pretty easily
Yeah not to mention,
Traes lack of defence and Gobert being a great defender.
Trade Gobert, and Kat.
Minnesota doesn’t need to run it back.
They have an expensive Edwards coming up, and KAT, and Gobert do not fit the perimeter game of today’s NBA.
I attribute Gobert, and KAT’s struggles primarily to their lack of mobility, speed, and quickness.
Wolves can’t defend shooters, and it makes them look pathetic from one night to the next sometimes this past season.
Gobert didn’t spend a lot of time protecting the paint last season either???
These 2 need to go, and Minnesota needs to regroup, and build around Edwards, like they should have done with Jimmy Butler.
“I’m gonna keep it simple like this,” Towns added, “the rumors are as true or as false as Minnesota makes them to be.”
That doesn’t make any sense.
He claims the Twolves are controlling the narrative. Everyone knows that one side or the other leaks things. He is claiming his side has not said anything about leaving. So yeah it does make sense. Now it is up to the fans if that want to believe what he or the Wolves say.
He has a contract, which sadly means he can’t go wherever he wants whenever he wants… but even more sadly MIN can do whatever they want whenever they want!
I mean he is too right and can’t be any clearer, right?
The fact Towns hasn’t requested a trade says more about how dumb he is than anything else.
If the rumor is true that Detroit and Dallas are looking to hookup on Bojan for Hardaway and the 10th pick I think there could be an interesting opportunity for the Pistons to acquire KAT for the 5th, 10th and possibly Beef Stew. Hiring Monty Williams as HC signals they are ready to compete. Throw out the 17-65 record last year and the bad luck in the lottery. They got hit hard by injuries. If they had Cade and Bojan the whole year they would’ve had at least 10 more wins which probably puts them in line with their current selection in the draft. Having $30+ million in cap space makes them a player in the free agent or trade market. Pistons fans aren’t expecting to compete for the championship but at least for the play in. I remember when the Pistons traded Grant Hill to Orlando for Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins. That turned into a championship for the Pistons a couple years later. KAT has the impact as all 3 together. I doubt this will happen but it’s fun to imagine a lineup of Cade, Ivey, Towns, Duran and whoever.. maybe Emoni Bates with the 31st pick.. can’t forget the Italian guy they drafted and stashed last year. Gabriel P something. Maybe Minnesota would want him too..
Hardaway and 10th is worth a lot more than Bogdanovich… Dallas would never do that.
Towns is a pretty good player who has been through a lot in his personal life, but acting like he was the one who “changed the game” when he himself had no courage to shoot before Steph Curry entered the league, really shows his low off-court IQ here.
KAT was 14 when Steph was drafted.
Big man who’s a great outside shooter that changed the game. Sounds like Durant to me. Towns will be remembered as a great shooting big man–true story. Durant changed the game.
I’d say Bird did that, but KD certainly expanded that narrative. Actually, Euro big men have been shooting 3’s for a long time. KD added the other perimeter skills that are needed to be more than that.
Dirk too?