Does this trade make sense for the Minnesota Timberwolves?
There is a legitimate ceiling on defense that exists when pairing two big men together, even if one of them is an elite rim protector like Myles Turner. The limitations that Karl-Anthony Towns brings to the table in this regard would surely keep the Timberwolves from achieving a top-flight unit on that end.
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Turner already has a significant number of reps covering up the defensive shortcomings of Domantas Sabonis and would essentially be doing the same for Karl-Anthony Towns. If the Timberwolves feel as though that’s vital to becoming a winning team, then it’s worthwhile for even just that reason alone.
This means the Timberwolves would need to be a highly effective offensive team in order to experience considerable improvement in their win-loss columns. While there are plenty of intriguing pieces on the perimeter in Minnesota, they lack an elite perimeter talent.
These concerns should raise questions about the viability of Karl-Anthony Towns as a franchise-player, above all else. This is a logical trade if the Timberwolves do feel as though they can take leaps forward defensively with Turner while believing in the short-term development of their offensive threats.