Golden State Warriors Receive: C Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN 2022 2nd Round Pick, MIN 2023 2nd Round Pick
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: F Andrew Wiggins*, C James Wiseman, MIN 2021 1st Round Pick (Pick #7), GSW 2021 1st Round Pick (Pick #14), GSW 2022 1st Round Pick (Pick Swap, More Favorable to MIN), GSW 2025 1st Round Pick (Pick Swap, More Favorable to MIN)
*Note: Andrew Wiggins would not be traded to Minnesota in this deal and would be going to a third team involved in this trade.
First things first, if the Warriors were to go after Towns in a trade this offseason, they would have to be willing to part ways with Andrew Wiggins. Golden State GM Bob Myers has spoken very highly of Wiggins and the upside he brings to them long-term, but he is making over $30M each of the next two seasons and the Warriors would have to remove him from their payroll in order to make room for KAT.
Since the Minnesota Timberwolves just traded Wiggins to Golden State last season, a third team would likely get involved in this deal to acquire Andrew Wiggins and possibly a few draft picks as well. One team that does come to mind initially are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have been rumored to possibly be moving on from Collin Sexton this offseason.
Sexton would definitely be a really solid fit in Minnesota next to D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards, which is why they are the third team in trade talks that makes sense, but that could all be figured out later on.
In this deal with the Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves would be acquiring the assets from Wiggins, a young center with a ton of upside in James Wiseman and they would be getting two lottery picks this year. Not to mention, Minnesota would also receive two first-round swaps in 2022 and 2025 from the Warriors.
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In terms of value, the Timberwolves would be getting a ton of upside moving forward not only with Wiseman as their young center, but two other young players they would be able to draft 7th and 14th overall. For the Warriors, getting Karl-Anthony Towns gives them that “final piece” to their championship puzzle, which is why they could pursue him in the offseason.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are not getting any younger, which is why the Warriors’ championship window has begun to close. Will they look to leverage their future to contend for championships now by trading for Towns in the offseason?
