The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off an exciting NBA playoff run to the Western Conference Finals before being eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks. With Anthony Edwards as a franchise player, many, including the New York Knicks, are monitoring the Wolves as they face a looming financial predicament.
NBA insider Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports reports that the Knicks are “100% expected” to pursue Towns if the Timberwolves are open to moving him in deals. He will enter the second of a four-year, $221 million contract he signed in 2022.
The Knicks should be eager to add talent to their roster despite being eliminated with many injuries to key players, including Julius Randle‘s season-ending injury. It’s important to note that team president Leon Rose previously represented Towns as his agent at CAA, and Tom Thibodeau coached Towns when he was the head coach in Minnesota.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks Updates
While Towns had an up-and-down postseason, he’s coming off a strong regular season. He averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists and shot 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from beyond the arc. In 16 postseason games, he averaged 19.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, shooting 46.6% overall and 36.1% from deep.
Towns, a New Jersey native, surely would welcome a move to the Knicks if he were to have to play for a different franchise for the first time in his NBA career. New York would be adding two All-NBA talent who would bring needed offensive firepower to complement Jalen Brunson.
When combined with the significant salary increases for Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert next season, the Timberwolves are in a precarious position, which has led to some considering Towns a possible trade candidate. The recent Collective Bargaining Agreement’s luxury tax implications added challenging restrictions to building a roster with such a heavy payroll.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks Updates
Speaking anonymously to Heavy Sports, one Eastern Conference general manager acknowledged the Timberwolves’ dilemma.
“That team is in flux,” the executive said. “They want to keep building off what they did this year, but they just can’t afford it. So, I would think it is 100% expected that if they move on from him when the dust settles, the Knicks are going to be there.”
The Timberwolves’ financial constraints resulted from their aggressive moves in recent years, and three players account for almost all of the first layer of the salary cap.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks Updates
Edwards is set to begin a five-year, $204 million extension that he signed last offseason, while Gobert was traded to Minnesota while already being signed to a five-year, $205 million deal he landed from the Utah Jazz in 2020.
The Knicks appear poised to make a substantial offseason move, whether it involves the Timberwolves or not. Minnesota remains a situation to monitor regardless.
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