The Minnesota Timberwolves are under pressure to perform well this season, especially after the Karl-Anthony Towns-Rudy Gobert experiment did not work out last year due to Towns’ injury. Another season with 42 wins and an early exit from the playoffs will not be satisfactory. If they disappoint, changes may be on the horizon.
Karl-Anthony Towns is the most likely big-name player to be traded from the Timberwolves. He recently signed a contract extension with Minnesota that will keep him with the team until 2028. Towns is known for his offensive skills, including his ability to shoot 3-pointers at a high percentage. This makes him an attractive trade candidate for other teams.
According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, the New York Knicks are one of the teams keeping an eye on Towns’ availability. This move would reunite Towns with his former coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau has expressed interest in coaching Towns again if he becomes available for trade.
Towns would bring a dynamic element to the Knicks’ offense, which performed well during the regular season but struggled in the playoffs. However, there are questions about his defensive abilities. Thibodeau is known for demanding excellence in defense, an area where Towns has struggled in the past. It will be interesting to see if Towns can improve his defense and keep up with the power forwards he is often tasked with guarding.
Thibodeau, commenting on Towns’ skills, said, “There’s nothing he can’t do offensively. He has continued to get better I think.”
