Money does not grow on trees. Money can also cause problems, especially for the NBA team paying a lot to a few players. The new second apron rule in the collective bargain agreement binds teams with the types of trades and signings they can make. It’s way too restrictive. Nonetheless, the Minnesota Timberwolves were staring at the second apron in a few years and decided to trade Karl-Anthony Towns.
Towns has been in Minnesota since 2015. He occupied the “face of the franchise,” role for the next five years, then Anthony Edwards showed up. Edwards has been box office on and off the court since he got to Minnesota.
Karl-Anthony Towns is beloved in Minnesota and has matured since arriving in 2015. Many fans will miss him, but the decision to trade him was the right one.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ Contract
Karl-Anthony Towns is set to make $220 million over the next four years. He has a player option for $61 million in the 2027-28 season. Yes, $61 million. You could buy a small city in Europe for that type of money.
Towns did not reach the 65-game threshold for awards last season. He wasn’t going to win any, but it’s an important benchmark for how much a player is available. His torn meniscus last season along with a calf injury the year prior paints a somber picture. Towns isn’t a guaranteed health bet compared to Edwards and frontcourt mate Rudy Gobert. Both of whom have reached the 65-game threshold each of the last four years.
Anthony Edwards’s new mega extension pays him $244 million over the next five years begins this season. The Wolves were on the hook for $134 million between Edwards, Towns, and Gobert. The NBA salary cap is $140 million. Trading Towns now gives the Wolves a ton of flexibility moving forward.
The newly acquired Julius Randle has a player option for the 2025-26 season. Even if it doesn’t work out, his contract is two fewer years than Towns, giving the Wolves the ability to take another big swing in a few years.
On The Court
Enough of the accounting and spreadsheet nonsense with the Wolves. The Timberwolves are adding two new players in this deal.
Julius Randle, like Towns, is an injury risk. However, Randle will give Minnesota another slasher, like Edwards. Randle can get to the free-throw line more and switch defensively onto wings more than Towns can. He is a better defender and is a more natural fit with Gobert on defense. Julius Randle won’t NEED to be out there in big moments. There will be no controversy if he is sitting in the last five minutes of a game instead of Naz Reid.
The Wolves also added Donte DiVincenzo who is a switchable wing who shot better from three than Towns in the regular season and the postseason. DiVincenzo has won a championship with the Bucks and is never afraid of big moments. Two things Towns cannot claim to be true.
By adding DiVincenzo and Randle the Wolves got needed depth and shooting to compliment their young star.
The Next Young Star
A hidden X-factor in this trade was the Wolves’ newest draft pick Rob Dillingham was a star at Kentucky last season. He was on fire the entire year. Dillingham shot 44 percent from three. He got to the free throw line three times a game as well. Dillingham started only one game the entire season. He is comfortable coming off the bench and will do the same for the Wolves.
Dillingham will be able to learn the ropes behind Edwards and Mike Conley. The development of Dillingham is crucial to the Wolves over the next few years.
In the context of this trade, Dillingham is on a rookie deal and the Wolves won’t have to pay him for four more years. The exact length of the Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract. The Wolves gave up two first-round picks for Dillingham and got a first-round pick back in the Towns’ trade.
In hindsight, the Dillingham move on draft night foreshadowed the Towns’ trade. With the new CBA, players on rookie contracts who are cheap and outperform their contract are more valuable than ever.
Conclusion
Due to money, future flexibility, and betting on a youngster, the Wolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns is a beloved figure and will continue to be one in Minnesota. The franchise’s main goal is to maximize the talent and potential of star Anthony Edwards.
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Featured Image: David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
