If you’re a fan of a rebuilding NBA team, you’d be well advised to remain patient. This is a process. It may take a while. We’ve seen teams rebuild for years, only to build a contender eventually. As the cliche goes, good things come to those who wait.
Yet, it’s also said that the early bird gets the worm. We’re not saying that your team will necessarily take a long time to rebuild. That’s how it typically goes, but there are exceptions to every rule.
Sometimes, a rebuilding team makes a surprising move to accelerate their rebuilding process. Could the Washington Wizards make such a move? This team just traded Bradley Beal.
At the same time, they dragged their feet in doing so. It’s possible that the Wizards didn’t want to undergo a long-term rebuilding process.
Could they speed things up by acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves?
NBA Trade Proposal — Washington Wizards Land Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: F Kyle Kuzma, G Landry Shamet, 2025 First-Round Pick (WAS), 2027 First-Round Pick (WAS), 2028 First-Round Pick (Swap – WAS)
Washington Wizards Receive: F/C Karl-Anthony Towns
Why does a rebuild typically take so long? Normally, a rebuilding team is trying to land their franchise player through the draft. That can be a long process. The lottery balls won’t always fall your way. Even when they do, it won’t guarantee you any degree of success.
Look at the the Timberwolves. When a team lands a number one pick, that’s enough luck. It’s very rare for a team to land two throughout a rebuild.
Yet, that’s precisely what happened to the Wolves. Towns and Anthony Edwards are both on this roster. Why aren’t the Timberwolves serious title contenders?
LATEST NBA TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards Updates
Perhaps it’s a matter of fit. Towns is a weak interior defender, which makes him difficult to build around. The Timberwolves tried to pair him with Rudy Gobert, which caused its issues.
Among them, it forces the team to play slowly, which isn’t ideal for Edwards. Does this deal help the Timberwolves pick up the pace?
Why The Minnesota Timberwolves Do The Deal
It sure does. Following this deal, the Wolves could pair Rudy Gobert and the recently extended Jaden McDaniels in the frontcourt full-time. Kuzma would be their new co-starter. What does that fit look like?
We like it. Kuzma would be this team’s second option behind Edwards. His do-it-all skillset should be appropriate for that role. The Wolves should improve defensively following this deal. They’ll slip on the offensive end, but the addition of Kuzma should minimize that slippage and make this a net positive.
LATEST NBA TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards Updates
If it doesn’t? At least Minnesota is getting some draft capital. Two first-round picks and a swap will make it easier for them to make another trade down the line.
Should the Wizards be giving up draft capital so quickly into their rebuild?
Why The Washington Wizards Do The Deal
Arguably, no. We understand any reservations about this deal on the Wizards’ end. At the same time, we’ll reiterate that Washington took a long time to move Beal. This team isn’t typically a magnet for star players. Washington could be happy to wrap up their rebuild before long.
Sure, this deal takes them out of the running for Justin Edwards, Cooper Flagg, and Cameron Boozer. On the other hand, they’ll need lottery luck to land any of those upcoming prospects anyway.
By contrast, Towns is a bird in the hand. He’s already one of the best offensive big men in the NBA. Moreover, the Wizards just extended Deni Avdija. He’s the type of versatile defender who can complement Towns.
LATEST NBA TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards Updates
Finally, the Wizards would be teaming Towns up with Jordan Poole. If that pair establishes good chemistry, who knows? The Wizards could be done rebuilding before long.
