Karl-Anthony Towns – Minnesota Timberwolves

It is a long-shot to believe in, but Karl-Anthony Towns should be at the top of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s wish list. Towns is just 25-years old and when healthy, he is one of the most dominant centers in the entire league. 

Now in his sixth season with the Timberwolves, KAT has made two All-Star appearances and made the All-NBA team for the 2017-18 season. After bringing in D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards, there was a lot of hype in Minnesota about the potential success this group could achieve, but it has been quite the opposite so far this season. 

Karl-Anthony Towns has played in just four games this year due to a wrist injury and COVID-19 protocols, but Minnesota is currently in last place in the Western Conference and they look like they have no shot at making the playoffs. They have some really solid young players, but it seems like this organization is still years away from competing at a high-level. 

Since being drafted by Minnesota, the Timberwolves have gone 162-230 (41.3% win percentage) in 5 seasons with Karl-Anthony Towns and have made the playoffs just once in that time frame. If Minnesota continues to struggle and cannot prove they can win, Towns may want out of his current situation.

Oklahoma City would be the perfect landing spot for the 25-year old center because he would not only be able to continue being the best player on the court, but he would finally have viable scoring options around him. Shai Gilegous-Alexander, Darius Bazley and Luguentz Dort are all solid young players with a lot of potential to grow into fantastic two-way players. 

It is no secret that Towns wants to win and while it may not seem like they are set up for immediate success, this OKC franchise has consistently proved their doubters wrong and have always competed at a high-level. The only time the Thunder have had a losing record since being in OKC was their first season after moving from Seattle in 2008-09. 

Without Durant, this team succeeded. Without Westbrook, this team succeeded. Without Chris Paul, so far, this team is succeeding. The Thunder’s front-office and their GM Sam Presti may be the best in the league and they know what it takes to put together a winning team. 

If they are somehow able to pull off a monumental trade for Karl-Anthony Towns, there is no doubt that they would surround him with the best talent they possibly can and they would likely look to add another superstar-level talent. Finding a way to get Towns should be the Thunder’s main priority not just up until the trade deadline, but heading into next offseason as well.