Bill Simmons of The Ringer recently proposed that the Minnesota Timberwolves trade Karl-Anthony Towns to the Portland Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard, who has requested a trade. However, according to NBA insider Aaron J. Fentress, the Blazers are not interested in acquiring Towns and Lillard doesn’t want to play for the Timberwolves.
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 NBA All-Star signed a four-year, $224.2 million designated veteran player extension with the Timberwolves in July 2022.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Portland Trail Blazers & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Minnesota hasn’t gotten past the first round of the playoffs in the Towns era, which began in 2015-16. Many people around the NBA 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.
NBA insiders 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.”
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.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Portland Trail Blazers & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Despite Towns and Rudy Gobert not being a good fit together last season, the Timberwolves have no intention of trading either big man. Meanwhile, Lillard only wants to get traded to the Miami Heat.
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