There’s a large number of drive at the Minnesota Timberwolves to compete at a excessive degree this season, after the Karl-Anthony Towns-Rudy Gobert experiment by no means were given to be absolutely discovered ultimate 12 months because of an harm that saved Towns out many of the season.
This 12 months, alternatively, some other 42-win season that leads to an eight-seed and a first-round playoff go out is not going to chop it. And in the event that they disappoint, adjustments may well be at the means.
The possibly big-name trade candidate at the Wolves roster is Towns, who signed a four-year, $224 million extension with Minnesota ultimate June that does not kick in till subsequent season, which is able to stay him below contract till the summer time of 2028. The self-proclaimed “greatest big man shooter of all time” has hit 40% of his 3-pointers for his profession and averaged 21 issues, 8 rebounds and a career-high 5 assists ultimate season. At 6-foot-11 with a various offensive ability set, it is simple to peer why Towns would pique groups’ pastime if the turns into to be had.
One of the groups keeping track of Towns’ possible availability is the New York Knicks, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. Should that transfer occur, it could reunite Towns with Tom Thibodeau, who coached him in Minnesota. From Bondy:
“Although a seemingly poor fit together in Minnesota, multiple sources stated that Thibodeau would welcome coaching Towns again. That’s relevant if Towns hits the trade market, and the Knicks, according to sources, are monitoring his situation.”
Towns would instantly upload a dynamic size to a Knicks offense that used to be unusually environment friendly (fourth within the NBA) right through the common season however sputtered within the postseason to the track of 107.7 issues per 100 possessions, score thirteenth a few of the 16 playoff groups.
The questions would come on protection, the place Thibodeau notoriously calls for excellence and in addition occurs to be the world during which Towns has struggled all through his profession. Despite his dimension, he hasn’t ever been an elite rim protector, and when he performs along some other massive guy he’s compelled to protect smaller energy forwards a lot of the time. This season will probably be a excellent take a look at case to peer if Towns can stay up with the ones kinds of gamers defensively. If he can, that may handiest make him extra interesting to groups just like the Knicks.
“Watching the progress he’s made throughout his career, he’s as gifted as they come,” Thibodeau mentioned of Towns. “When you look at an offensive player, particularly a big, the skill set that he has — I think we all saw, to win the 3-point contest and stuff like that — there’s nothing he can’t do offensively. He has continued to get better I think.”