For a long time, big men dominated the NBA. Having one dominant big man wasn’t always enough. Some teams sought a pair of dominant bigs.
The San Antonio Spurs found a lot of success with Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Before them, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson led the Houston Rockets. Throughout history, we’ve seen pairs of star bigs take teams far.
Perhaps the Twin Towers are making a comeback. The Minnesota Timberwolves are near the top of the Western Conference thanks to Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Yet, some rumors have suggested that they could look to move one of them this summer. Could they send Towns to the Philadelphia 76ers?
NBA Trade Proposal
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: F/C Paul Reed, G De’Anthony Melton, 2028 First-Round Pick (LAC via PHI), 2029 First-Round Pick (PHI), 2030 First-Round Pick (Swap – PHI)
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: F/C Karl-Anthony Towns
For a while, it looked like big men were on the way out. Small ball was fashionable around the league. What happened?
Well, the league’s best teams still likely have small-ball options. The league is trending towards versatility. Teams are looking to go big, small, and everywhere in between.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
In the end, what matters most is skill. The league is position-less – the more abilities you can get in each position, the better. With that in mind, should the Wolves part with such a skillful player?
Why The Minnesota Timberwolves Do The Deal
If the Wolves make a deep playoff run, they won’t want to move Towns. Otherwise, it’s something they may have to consider. Anthony Edwards’ extension kicks in next season, and the Wolves will be well over the cap.
Moreover, if they don’t make a good playoff run, they may decide that they’re too beholden to these big lineups. If so, they’ll want to diversify. This team helps. Reed is a switch big, and Melton gives Minnesota some much-needed backcourt depth.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Still, the main point for the Wolves here is to restock their cupboard with draft picks. Two firsts an a swap ought to do the trick. Should the Sixers give so much up for Towns?
Why The Philadelphia 76ers Do The Deal
At one time, we would have said this was a poor decision for the Sixers. Towns is a defensive liability – why have him guard the perimeter? This year, Towns has made strides on that end. The Wolves have the best defense in the NBA.
The Sixers could replicate that success by pairing Towns with Joel Embiid. On the other hand, their new Twin Towers duo would be much more impressive offensively. With Embiid on the inside and Towns on the perimeter, opponents would be in a bind.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
That’s before you consider the emergence of Tyrese Maxey. All told, this deal would make the Sixers among the most talented teams in the NBA. They’d also have the league’s best pair of big men.
