MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 10: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter of Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at Target Center on May 10, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves 117-90. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Karl-Anthony Towns leave as Timberwolves decline the option on His contract for next season… See More…
The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off an exciting NBA playoff run to the Western Conference Finals before being eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks. With Anthony Edwards as a franchise player, many, including the New York Knicks, are monitoring the Wolves as they face a looming financial predicament.
NBA insider Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports reports that the Knicks are “100% expected” to pursue Towns if the Timberwolves are open to moving him in deals. He will enter the second of a four-year, $221 million contract he signed in 2022.
The Knicks should be eager to add talent to their roster despite being eliminated with many injuries to key players, including Julius Randle‘s season-ending injury. It’s important to note that team president Leon Rose previously represented Towns as his agent at CAA, and Tom Thibodeau coached Towns when he was the head coach in Minnesota.
While Towns had an up-and-down postseason, he’s coming off a strong regular season. He averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists and shot 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from beyond the arc. In 16 postseason games, he averaged 19.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, shooting 46.6% overall and 36.1% from deep.
Towns, a New Jersey native, surely would welcome a move to the Knicks if he were to have to play for a different franchise for the first time in his NBA career. New York would be adding two All-NBA talent who would bring needed offensive firepower to complement Jalen Brunson.
