RealGM

The Minnesota Timberwolves had some level of interest in a trade concept with the New Orleans Pelicans involving Karl-Anthony Towns for Brandon Ingram. A trade involving the two teams likely would have needed to happen during the 23-24 season when Towns was on his pre-supermax contract.

The Wolves ultimately agreed to a similar trade with the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Ingram, like Randle, is on an expiring contract.

Taking on Towns' four-year, $224 million supermax deal would have been challenging for the Pelicans financially. 

Via Shams Charania/ESPN

This would have been infinitely better for both teams

Griffin is looking really, really bad right now. One more year with CJ on the books and then you could have had KAT and Zion up front, with Daniels, Herb and Alvarado protecting them defensively and Trey Murphy doing his thing on the wing as well.

First, even if Towns and Zion were healthy 72 games, that would be one the worst defensive front courts in the NBA.

Second, we can’t insult either GM, because we don’t know what what the offers were.

MIN’s threshold for trading Towns wasn’t Randle - it was Randle PLUS DiVincenzo’s three year cheap deal PLUS a protected DET 1st.

What’s a comparable NOP offer? Ingram PLUS Herb Brooks PLUS a protected 1st? Maybe more? We just don’t know.