‘Blockbuster’ Trade Proposal Sends Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns To Clippers

One NBA analyst proposed that the Los Angeles Clippers acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Clippers, Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets:

Los Angeles Clippers Receive: F/C Karl-Anthony Towns

Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: F Cameron Johnson, F Dorian Finney-Smith, SG Terance Mann, 2030 second-round pick

Brooklyn Nets Receive: SG Norm Powell, PF Kobe Brown, G Bones Hyland, F/C P.J. Tucker, 2031 first-round pick (unprotected, via Los Angeles Clippers), 2031 second-round pick (via Los Angeles Clippers)

The Clippers lost Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency. They also traded Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz (Westbrook was waived by the Jazz and will sign with the Denver Nuggets).

“The Clippers are in real danger of missing the Western Conference playoffs next season and should be in pursuit of a third star to pair with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden,” Swartz wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “Towns, 28, is a four-time All-Star who would bring a different offensive dimension to Los Angeles with his floor-spacing ability. He could play alongside Ivica Zubac in the starting lineup, or head coach Tyronn Lue could go wing-heavy with Towns at center and either Nicolas Batum or Derrick Jones Jr. in the opening five. Either way, acquiring Towns should keep the Clippers in the top six in the West.”

Towns averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks for the Timberwolves in 2023-24 while shooting 50.4% from the field, 41.6% from beyond the arc and 87.3% from the free-throw line.  

A four-time All-Star, Towns has career averages of 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.3 blocks. He was the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of Kentucky. 

Towns, who has made two All-NBA teams, signed a four-year, $221 million extension in July 2022. He will make $49.4 million next season. 

Towns and Anthony Edwards have massive extensions kicking in next season and Rudy Gobert is slated to make max money as well.

Towns or Gobert have to be traded this offseason for the Timberwolves to avoid paying a huge luxury tax bill under the new CBA.