One NBA writer is proposing that the Houston Rockets acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster trade.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed that the Rockets trade Amen Thompson, Kevin Porter Jr., Jae’Sean Tate, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2026 first-round pick to the Timberwolves for Towns. This proposed trade can’t happen until August 2 since Thompson just signed his rookie contract with Houston.
“Houston threw cash around like it was nothing in free agency, and it chased a much older floor-stretching center in Brook Lopez,” Hughes wrote. “Towns doesn’t bring the defense Lopez would have, but he scares opponents with much higher-volume and more accurate three-point shooting.”
Two NBA insiders are keeping an eye on Towns’ future with the Timberwolves in the wake of Anthony Edwards signing a five-year maximum contract extension that could be worth up to $260 million. Tim MacMahon and Jamal Collier of ESPN think Towns is a player who has flown under the radar in free agency but could be a big storyline at the 2024 February trade deadline.
“There has been some discussion about Towns, but it shouldn’t be a surprise if that gets much louder as the trade deadline nears,” MacMahon wrote. “The face of the franchise for the Timberwolves has transitioned to Edwards, fresh off signing a new potential supermax extension. If Minnesota is going to make another major change, it would need to be by trading Towns.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves & Houston Rockets Updates
Added Collier: “Minnesota did not live up to expectations last season, and had Towns not missed such a significant portion of the campaign with an injury, there might already be more questions surrounding that roster.”
Towns signed a four-year, $224.2 million designated veteran player extension with the Timberwolves in July 2022. Minnesota hasn’t gotten past the first round of the playoffs in the KAT era, which began in 2015-16.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves & Houston Rockets Updates
The 27-year-old Towns averaged 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season while shooting 49.5% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc and 87.4% from the free-throw line. The three-time All-Star only played in 29 games due to a serious calf injury.
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