Why this trade makes sense for the Minnesota Timberwolves
The only way this trade makes sense for the Timberwolves is if they actively look to trade Towns in the offseason. If they are not looking to trade him, then this trade makes no sense whatsoever, but if they do want to hit the “reset” button on their roster and move their perennial All-Star center, then this trade is actually not that bad.
Giving up Towns will definitely hurt their overall production, but getting a young center in DeAndre Ayton in return is a fantastic building block for them to utilize with both Malik Beasley and Anthony Edwards.
Ayton is only 22-years-old and entering the league, was drawing a lot of comparisons to the great David Robinson. Now in his third season, Ayton has averaged 16.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and has shot 57.9% from the floor for his career, but he is only going to get better.
He currently ranks in the Top-10 in rebounds per game ranks 12th in the league in total double-doubles. Trading Towns and getting a young player with superstar aspects to his game in Ayton, as well as a key role player in Dario Saric, a young talent in Jalen Smith and a ton of draft compensation gives the Timberwolves exactly what they need to reset and get back on track as an organization.
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Right now, the Timberwolves are in no position to be a contending franchise and while they have a really solid core in Towns, Russell, Edwards and Beasley, they are not going to be a championship contender or even a real playoff threat over the course of the next several seasons, which is why taking a step back and trying to build for the future is the right move to do.
If the T-Wolves do look to trade Towns, then the Phoenix Suns may be a good place for them to trade him to. While he would still remain in the Western Conference and they would run into him a few times a year, they could get a ton of return value from Phoenix, which is something that would be hard for them to turn down in their situation.
