The Timberwolves‘ trip to Madison Square Garden Saturday night carried a lot more intrigue that a normal preseason game. That’s because of a report from Stefan Bondy of The New York Post that the Knicks are monitoring Karl-Anthony Towns‘ situation in Minnesota in case he becomes available on the trade market.
A potential deal with the Wolves would reunite Towns with Tom Thibodeau, who coached him for two-and-a-half seasons in Minnesota. That was early in Towns’ career and their relationship was often tumultuous, but sources tell Bondy that Thibodeau would welcome the chance to coach Towns again.
“Watching the progress he’s made throughout his career, he’s as gifted as they come,” Thibodeau said. “When you look at an offensive player, particularly a big, the skill set that he has, I think we all saw, to win the three-point contest and stuff like that, there’s nothing he can’t do offensively. He has continued to get better, I think. He had some injuries to deal with. I watched him play in FIBA (the World Cup, for the Dominican Republic), he played really well there. He’s really, really gifted.”
Speaking to reporters before Saturday’s game, Towns admitted that he and Thibodeau clashed the last time they worked together, but added that they resolved their differences years ago, Bondy adds in another story. He didn’t go into details of what they talked about, but he expressed a high opinion of Thibodeau’s coaching abilities.
“I got no problems with Thibs. We’ve been squashed that,” Towns said. “I still look at Thibs as one of the best Xs and Os coaches I’ve been able to play for. He breathes winning and I got nothing but respect for him.”
Towns also refused to address any trade speculation, responding to a question by saying, “I don’t really have time to think about that.”
Bondy points out that Towns’ connections to the team and the area make the Knicks a natural destination if the Wolves ever decide to move him. In addition to his familiarity with Thibodeau, Towns is a native of northern New Jersey and team president Leon Rose is his former agent.
Towns is one of the NBA’s best-shooting big men, but his sizable contract and a potential salary crunch in Minnesota could eventually make him available. Towns’ contract extension will kick in next season, paying him roughly $49.7MM, $53.7MM, $57.7MM and $61.6MM over the next four years. Adding that to the extension Anthony Edwards received this summer and the expected new contract for Jaden McDaniels gives the Wolves a very expensive payroll for a team that has been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs the past two years.
Towns has also proven to be an awkward fit alongside Rudy Gobert, who was acquired in a trade last summer. Gobert is owed nearly $85MM over the next two seasons and has a $46.7MM player option for 2025/26, and he’s not likely to bring the return in a trade that Minnesota could get by dealing Towns.
With a roster filled with young talent and a stockpile of draft assets that can rival anyone in the league, the Knicks are well positioned to pursue the next star that becomes available. If that turns out to be Towns, the organization appears ready to consider an offer.
The Knicks would need to include Randle or Mitch. Towns and Randle would be freedom to the rim, neither are rim protectors. Mitch and Towns seems very similar to Gobert/Towns so no real fit. Think the Towns to NY is just typical media smoke.
Towns and Gobert only played 32 games together from start to finish including the play in. We have no idea how well they fit together.
Why would they need to include Randle? They have the draft assets and contracts to get a deal done. Mitchell goes to a 3rd team. I’ve constructed this or a Gobert trade before, both make sense for the NYK LT.
Fournier, Quickley, Mitchell, and Picks for KAT is the basic premise. You involve a 3rd team, like.. the Hornets, and you reduce the draft capital from the Knicks.
If you’re going to make a trade for a marquee player, this is the year, this is it. You have the contracts and pieces to do it.
Fournier Quickley and Mitchell? How many picks you including? Would have to be 4+ given those players
In the scenario NYK is even interested (I have my doubts) I think they’d view Kat as a 4 and Randle as the necessary piece goin out
The Wolves aren’t a rebuilding squad, they’re in win now mode. The Knicks would have to give up someone of at least Barrett’s caliber to get the T-Wolves to flinch. That wouldn’t even do it though as they have Edwards and McDaniels in place on the wing.
Win now until the trade deadline when they are barely a play-in team.
The proposal I presented a couple months ago was
Randle and Fourn 47 mill
KAT+ SlowMo+ McLauglin – 47 mill
Id reject if NYK but it be a sly cast off Imo for Minny to attempt-
KAT goes to 50 next year for 3 more years till it hits 60 in his send off year
With another meh year that would be considered underwater and pretty much unmovable . Minnys got better uses for the cap than that, but so does NYK!……..
No bites in the apple in the end
Lol pathetic offer.
Knicks are always looking at other people’s grass.
Knicks keeping an eye on the Wemby situation. Sources say he enjoyed throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium after he was drafted.
That’s a lot of money for a guy who puts up numbers on bad teams. Four career playoff wins in eight seasons and a potential beef with the head coach? Major pass.
Put him in the right setting and he may just excel. Can say the same about Garnett, Love, Butler, etc. They all did well outside of Minny. If Thibs doesn’t get to the eastern finals, I think he’s gone.
Yeah right…
KAT will be a Net long before a Knick if Thibs is in charge…
I just don’t see Thibs getting on hands and knees to apologise for the whole Butler fiasco…
If that has actually happened then maybe… But Thibs would have to sell KAT on the vision of being the franchise star…
Sure it’s the Knicks, they don’t have one, however Thibs showed he has no idea how to use KAT once and has never utilised an offensive centre like KAT well…
Right now, it’s hard to see any Towns deal to the NYK. His contract (5 more years with an average 55 mm per year for the last 4 years) and his career timeline, suggest this season with MIN will be career defining. He’ll either prove that he lead a true contender playing alongside a defensive C like Gobert, or that he can’t. If he proves he can, then MIN is unlikely to trade him. If he proves he can’t, then the NYK are unlikely to want him, at least at a star price. Maybe there’s something in between, but with the trade-phobia that’s gripped the league for over a decade, its not an easy thing to envision.
Yea I think its now or never
I’d lean to go now with a pretty aggressive approach but I don’t think Minny has the stomach to ultimately pull that card
Ironically, or maybe not, KAT’s probably best fit in the entire NBA might be the Knicks but I’m still not taking on that salary if I’m them. I see them (Kat/Minny) unhappily happily stuck together for quite some years
If that’s their fate, it’s deserved on both sides. KAT passed on chance to be part of a winner earlier in his career under Thibs (they were 47-35 in 2017-18, right where the Knicks are now, with more star power). He passed on it because Jimmy Butler said mean things to him. MIN’s new ownership wanted to look cool by overpaying Connelly, who in turn wanted to look cool by making a trade that could make him look like the smartest kid in the room.
It may just turn out Connelly was the smartest kid in the room. The T-Wolves will be very good this year. They were 46-36 the season before the Gobert trade with Russell at PG, McDaniels and Edwards in their sophomore season. They traded for a 3 time DPOY then Towns got hurt. They never really got a chance to see how things would work.
The fact that he took over a 46-36 team that was young and still ascending (before the trade) only raises the bar for what level of success will make the trade look good. Being “very good” needs to translate to being a contender, not merely some advancement from 46 wins (they were on that path before the trade). If they’re that, and the twin towers is a big reason, then he’ll look smart.
No, no matter how it turns out, they were wrong; they traded all their depth, all their #1’s for the foreseeable future, to get a more experienced version of the guy THEY JUST DRAFTED! Had they not made that trade, this team really would be going somewhere (or at least have more of a long-term ability to try and add “good” players with the draft capital they’d still have).
Wolves actually have better depth now than they did then. And still a draft pick every other year. But I see the point you’re trying to make. I wish that trade never happened.
Randle and Anunoby to the wolves
Turner, Siakam, McConnel, Theis and Hield to the Knicks.
Mathurin, RJ, Nembhard & Fournier to the Raptors.
Towns, Mitch, Quickley, Grimes and McBride to the Pacers.
Interesting though to close to the season :)
I’d never consider a win win trade with more than two trams as even remotely possible because most owners don’t believe in the concept of Win Win. Unless the other team loses they’re afraid to make a move.
When Jimmy clashed with TWolves. Towns was one of the ones he was talking about. He was young and the new star. And didn’t understand what paying the price. To be a contender a good team meant. Like many young stars being the #1 pick. It Meant he already was one of the best.
Today Towns has grown. Unfortunately his D has not like his O. And Minny by getting Rudy. Pretty much is saying that to whole NBA.
I would never pay max money to a 1way player. I doubt highly Thibs would want Towns on this team. Especially when Minny would want the world for him.
This FO with Rose and Thibs. Has been playing it smart. Jalen a FA signed, Randle a FA signed to good contract. RJ, Grimes, Quickley, Mitch all draft picks. Donte a FA signed, Hart a low #1 pick trade. Hartenstein a FA signed.
Knicks are not being run by Dolan ………..
Finally ……… thank God.
Towns isn’t the guy for this team. Me, I rather have Rudy. He’s cheaper and fits us like a glove. For as long as I’ve been here posting. The Knicks have been trading for everyone alive who can bounce a ball.
Towns is a nice player, talent. I don’t want him. I believe Knicks don’t want him.
Knicks are finally on the path to real success. Now is not the time chase headlines. Stay the path and do this right.
For what Towns would cost the Knicks ….
We could get both Rudy and DeM DeR …..
Now I’m all in on that ……..
Gotta love Knicks fans that become accountants to justify a series of moves that guarantee mediocrity.
Prudent move Mr. Thibs. That should lead to a long term gain because when A equals B and B equals C, A equals C which combined with being the greatest city in the world makes us really important to the NBA!
I just don’t see the Knicks being in the frame for any of those players… They’ll get outbid easily…
Seems like such an odd fit.
Brunson Randle and KAT means little to no defence, both inside and outside the perimeter. Yes you add shooting but you give up a lot aswell.
As for Minny who would they want back in a trade? RJ Barrett possibly, IQ would be cool but also needs an extension, Mitchell Robinson don’t need him with Gobert and Naz Reid. I guess take back Fouriner to make Gobert happy and grab a bunch of first round picks while your at it but not a great deal for either side.
Karl Anthony-Towns and Kyle Anderson for RJ Barrett, Evan Fouriner, IQ and 2 first round picks and 3 swaps
Knicks…
Brunson Grimes Hart Randle KAT
McBride DiVancenzo … Anderson Hartenstein
*note* would create extra open roster spot which could be filled with another forward
Wolves
Conley ANT Barrett McDaniels Gobert
IQ Fouriner Brown Jr … Reid
Would have a bunch of back up guards and lack of forwards. McLaughlin, Moore, NAW and Milton.
Think there’s better offers out there for you Minny and think there’s a hundred better moves for the Knicks