Around the NBA, the dust is beginning to settle. The Portland Trail Blazers settled the Damian Lillard situation. Now, they’ve settled the Jrue Holiday situation as well. The Blazers have officially sent Holiday to the Boston Celtics.
That means that it’s time to start thinking about the next crop of NBA superstars on the move. Sure, the James Harden situation is still pending. That one feels like it’s got the potential to get messy. Otherwise, it’s time to look to the future. Now, we’ll begin speculating on players who could be traded even if they’re not officially on the block.
You know the names. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Don’t be surprised if the New York Knicks get in the mix for any of these guys. Here’s a deal that sends Towns to them.
The Trade Proposal
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: C Mitchell Robinson
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: C Jonas Valanciunas, G/F Evan Fournier, G/F Dyson Daniels, 2026 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2028 First-Round Pick (NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: F/C Karl-Anthony Towns
We said that the dust was beginning to settle. We didn’t say that it had settled altogether. There are still uncomfortable situations around the NBA that need to be resolved. It’s simply that, besides Harden, the highest-profile trade candidates have been moved.
The Indiana Pacers still roster Buddy Hield. He’s due for an extension this summer, and by all accounts, the Pacers don’t want to pay it. The Houston Rockets are allegedly looking to move Kevin Porter Jr. – good luck with that. Then, there’s Jonas Valanciunas and the Pelicans.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves & New York Knicks Updates
Apparently, New Orleans would like a more defensive-minded big man. That makes sense. With Zion Williamson on the roster, the Pelicans could use a big who can protect the rim nightly. Should they be satisfied with Robinson?
Why The New Orleans Pelicans Do The Deal
Why wouldn’t they be? Robinson is one of the best defensive big men in the NBA. He’s an elite rim protector and can defend in space when tasked with the job. If they’re looking for a defensive anchor, they won’t do much better than Robinson.
Should they have concerns about his role? Perhaps. It’s been rumored that Robinson isn’t satisfied with the number of touches he gets in New York. Alongside Williamson and Ingram, that problem could persist. Yet, Robinson’s effort never seems to wane. If he’s doing his job well, the Pelicans will live with his complaints.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves & New York Knicks Updates
Will they miss Daniels? Absolutely. At the same time, the Pelicans would like to be contending for the title soon. They may not have the bandwidth to develop young players. Should the Timberwolves be interested in developing Daniels?
Why The Minnesota Timberwolves Do The Deal
The Timberwolves are at a crossroads. Giving up on win-now aspirations will sting. Make no mistake: this deal makes them worse in the present. Yet, they should still probably make it. In the long run, it should make them a better team.
Daniels has a lot to do with that. His potential is through the roof. Daniels is a versatile player with the size to play no on the wings but also the instincts to run point. He’s also an elite defensive playmaker. In time, he and Anthony Edwards could develop an explosive dynamic in transition.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves & New York Knicks Updates
Otherwise, the Wolves get a pair of unprotected firsts and expiring contracts. They may prefer more draft capital, but given Towns’ limitations as a defensive player, they may not get it. With that in mind, they should be happy with a return like this one. Should the Knicks invest in such a limited defender?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
Well, Towns isn’t merely a limited defender. He’s Karl-Anthony Towns. This is one of the best offensive big men that the league has ever seen. The Knicks are acquiring a star in this deal.
Is the fit perfect? No. There will be concerns about Towns and Julius Randle as a front-court duo. OK. Trade Randle. Towns is the more dynamic offensive player. If the Knicks could eventually flip Randle (and perhaps some more draft capital) for a more defensive-minded 4, this deal should make them a better team.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves & New York Knicks Updates
Meanwhile, two first-rounders is a low price for a player like Towns. The Knicks would be capitalizing on a buy-low opportunity here. Parting with Robinson stings, but that’s something they’re allegedly considering anyway. They might as well replace him with an offensive star like Towns – once the dust settles, that should make New York a better team.
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