Karl-Anthony Towns is just days removed from issuing a bold warning to Joel Embiid and the NBA’s other preeminent centers. Clearly at the moment he wants to stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves and lead the team into the playoffs.
That said, it’s difficult to ignore the fact that Towns has been a frequent topic of trade conversations for years now. And given the likelihood that Minnesota will struggle this season much in the same way the team has consistently for the better part of Towns’ entire stint there, it’s hard not to start playing out worst case scenarios.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns have a situation of their own brewing with Deandre Ayton, who has been unhappy with how the team has handled his looming rookie contract extension.
There is a path forward that could serve as a win-win for all parties involved.
As noted by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, a trade that sees Towns land in Phoenix could solve a lot of problems for both teams.
In this proposed deal, Towns would go to the Suns in return for Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder, Dario Saric, and a 2024 first-round pick.
“It seems like the Suns don’t see Ayton as an automatic max player, so maybe they’d consider moving him from an already established elite,” Buckley wrote.
“Towns, who shoots like a super-sized Splash Brother and dances around the post like he’s trained in ballet, could qualify as a two-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA honoree. Towns also happens to be a college teammate of Devin Booker, and Towns’ scoring versatility would open even more options in Chris Paul’s pick-and-roll game. Swing this deal, and Phoenix might go from being part of the Western Conference race to leading it.”
How does Kyrie’s girlfriend fit into all this?https://t.co/Ec99COewpN
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 18, 2021
If this trade occurred, Ayton would immediately land in a rebuilding situation where he could play a more central role than the one he plays in Phoenix. Towns, meanwhile, quickly becomes a key piece of a championship-contending squad.
When big names of this caliber get moved, it’s rare that all sides emerge as winners. But that is precisely what would happen here.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
