Karl-Anthony Towns Traded to New York (Official Discussion Thread)

[guest81]

I'm pretty sure donte was the betting favorite for 6th man of the year for this year and we already have the 6th man of the year. I think people are putting way too much stock in the randle part. You don't have to ask him to be the 2nd option in the team he just has to be a rotation player. With kat there was a sense that you had to placate him to a degree because he used to be the franchise player

[coolcono]

I was just considering KAT's injury proneness and his childlike antics after not getting calls. Randle might be a worse fit with Gobert, but could Naz start, or pseudo-start, after Randle?
We need to remember, that although Connelly doesn't draft well, his player for player trades have all fit the development of league trends and analytics.

[TimberKat]

Could this increase the possibility to trade for KD bm before the deadline or next off season?

This year we are still above the second apron, so we can’t add salaries to match Durant.

I would hope that the plan is to let Randle walk next year, and use some of that savings to bring back Naz. It’s also possible ownership may not even do that. Next season they may just say, “yeah, we love Naz but we couldn’t afford him,” and just take the savings to reduce or even avoid lux taxes.

I love the idea of getting Durant, but with maxes on Ant and Gobert (unless he renegotiates), I think KD’s salary is just too high.

This trade certainly increases the possibility of a Ant for Beal trade. I don't have problem trading anyone but we want to trade up like for Gobert. This is definitely a trade down. I like to hear how Taylor (ARod make me do it) or Connelly going to spin this one. I am glad I didn't buy season tickets for this year. After waiting for 20 years getting to conference final, this is what the fans get? I am almost done as a Wolves fan.

[shrink]

Could this increase the possibility to trade for KD bm before the deadline or next off season?

This year we are still above the second apron, so we can’t add salaries to match Durant.

I would hope that the plan is to let Randle walk next year, and use some of that savings to bring back Naz. It’s also possible ownership may not even do that. Next season they may just say, “yeah, we love Naz but we couldn’t afford him,” and just take the savings to reduce or even avoid lux taxes.

I love the idea of getting Durant, but with maxes on Ant and Gobert (unless he renegotiates), I think KD’s salary is just too high.

This trade certainly increases the possibility of a Ant for Beal trade. I don't have problem trading anyone but we want to trade up like for Gobert. This is definitely a trade down. I like to hear how Taylor (ARod make me do it) or Connelly going to spin this one. I am glad I didn't buy season tickets for this year. After waiting for 20 years getting to conference final, this is what the fans get? I am almost done as a Wolves fan.

Yes, I think most smarter fans are going to see that we made a cost-cutting move in a season when we had the best chance of contending with our continuity. But I think I wrote here (or maybe the Trade Board), that Connelly is likely going to sell it that Randle is a two-time All NBA PF, so “believe me, we aren’t trying to get worse to save money!” I hope he says, “we will give this money next year to Naz,” but I don’t expect the organization to tie themselves down like that.

[Zonarosa]

I gotta believe we are trading Rudy as well.

[Zonarosa]

this was an entertaining read on a saturday morning.

[Worm Guts]

I’m going to miss KAT as a guy who was loyal to the franchise, but he was a flawed player who made a lot of money. Even if we didn’t need more depth necessarily, I do think this improves our flexibility. It possibly opens the door for future moves.

[coachEmily]

It does seem like Gobert will be traded, since Randle operates best in the post, and we don't want Randle shooting 3s.
And Gobert should have some major trade value, being a virtual lock for DPOY each year.
Gobert for Durant? It would solve Phoenix's interior defense problem for sure!
Good time to get Durant too, he played 75 games last season (and 37.2 minutes per game!) and shot .413 downtown

[Note30]

this was an entertaining read on a saturday morning.

Come on now

[Note30]

It does seem like Gobert will be traded, since Randle operates best in the post, and we don't want Randle shooting 3s.
And Gobert should have some major trade value, being a virtual lock for DPOY each year.
Gobert for Durant? It would solve Phoenix's interior defense problem for sure!
Good time to get Durant too, he played 75 games last season (and 37.2 minutes per game!) and shot .413 downtown

Gobert isn't going anywhere.

[shrink]

I don’t think Gobert and Randall are a good fit together, and they make it hard on Ant to have clear lanes to the basket for drives.

But if they are going to get rid of one of them, I really think it’s Randall.

Hmmm .. I wonder what Rudy thinks about this trade, and how it affects his willingness to extend, and for how much?

[80HD]

I appreciate KAT for being a true professional and bringing hope back to this franchise after a DECADE of embarrassment.

He followed up his ROY season with a phenomenal 25/12 season and I thought we had the next generational big man talent; I had KAT ranked higher than Jokic and Giannis after his 2nd year. However, he peaked there and never ascended like Jokic and Giannis. Jimmy came in and slowed his progression, made a mockery of him and the organization, and things went south for KAT from there.

KAT never became that guy that commanded 20+ shots and demanded late game touches. Last year, in the playoffs, we had Naz closing out games over KAT - that is just not acceptable as the 2nd option and your super max guy; credit to Naz, though, as he was playing phenomenal.

This was clearly a financial move, though - if KAT was a $30 million contract instead of a $50 million contract, he would still be on the Wolves. I would much rather have KAT over Randle + DiVicenzo.

I will miss KAT, and hope he succeeds in NY, but “AfTer aLL tHaT?” I will be happy to not see those foolish forced passes, silly offensive fouls, and constant crying to officials from our supermax guy.

[guest81]

Guys kat got a max deal and a supermax contract when let's be honest, he isn't a supermax player. Let's stop acting like the wolves have ruined kats life

[Worm Guts]

Could this increase the possibility to trade for KD bm before the deadline or next off season?

This year we are still above the second apron, so we can’t add salaries to match Durant.

I would hope that the plan is to let Randle walk next year, and use some of that savings to bring back Naz. It’s also possible ownership may not even do that. Next season they may just say, “yeah, we love Naz but we couldn’t afford him,” and just take the savings to reduce or even avoid lux taxes.

I love the idea of getting Durant, but with maxes on Ant and Gobert (unless he renegotiates), I think KD’s salary is just too high.

This trade certainly increases the possibility of a Ant for Beal trade. I don't have problem trading anyone but we want to trade up like for Gobert. This is definitely a trade down. I like to hear how Taylor (ARod make me do it) or Connelly going to spin this one. I am glad I didn't buy season tickets for this year. After waiting for 20 years getting to conference final, this is what the fans get? I am almost done as a Wolves fan.

I think this trade makes it easier to trade back up without getting worse.No rebuilding team would want KAT’s contract. I don’t know if that’s what Connelly had in mind, I guess we’ll find out.

[guest81]

Could this increase the possibility to trade for KD bm before the deadline or next off season?

This year we are still above the second apron, so we can’t add salaries to match Durant.

I would hope that the plan is to let Randle walk next year, and use some of that savings to bring back Naz. It’s also possible ownership may not even do that. Next season they may just say, “yeah, we love Naz but we couldn’t afford him,” and just take the savings to reduce or even avoid lux taxes.

I love the idea of getting Durant, but with maxes on Ant and Gobert (unless he renegotiates), I think KD’s salary is just too high.

This trade certainly increases the possibility of a Ant for Beal trade. I don't have problem trading anyone but we want to trade up like for Gobert. This is definitely a trade down. I like to hear how Taylor (ARod make me do it) or Connelly going to spin this one. I am glad I didn't buy season tickets for this year. After waiting for 20 years getting to conference final, this is what the fans get? I am almost done as a Wolves fan.

If this is what makes you quit being a Wolves fan and not the 30 years of crap previously i don't know what to tell you

[cpfsf]

I bet Detroit is gonna try to trade to get their pick back.

So much depth for the regular season. Though anything worst than 4th seed is a failure in my book. During the playoffs, i'm not so sure...

[SSUBluesman]

This really sucks to wake up to on a Saturday morning.

I hope we're able to appreciate that in a league riddled with drama, jealousy, and greed that has broken up dozens of talented young teams, KAT did the complete opposite. We saw it with Steph and KAT experienced it with that **** Butler. Not only did he willingly cede the Number 1 pick/Franchise player to ANT but he did so in a supporting, big brother kind of way. Then they trade for a guy who plays his position, and not only does he willingly move to PF, but he goes out of his way to fit with Rudy. That's special, and a primary reason why this team grew into a contender that made the WCF.

As bad as I want to see the Wolves win the title, part of it was to watch KAT hoist the trophy after everything he's been through.

[shrink]

This really sucks to wake up to on a Saturday morning.

I hope we're able to appreciate that in a league riddled with drama, jealousy, and greed that has broken up dozens of talented young teams, KAT did the complete opposite. We saw it with Steph and KAT experienced it with that **** Butler. Not only did he willingly cede the Number 1 pick/Franchise player to ANT but he did so in a supporting, big brother kind of way. Then they trade for a guy who plays his position, and not only does he willingly move to PF, but he goes out of his way to fit with Rudy. That's special, and a primary reason why this team grew into a contender that made the WCF.

As bad as I want to see the Wolves win the title, part of it was to watch KAT hoist the trophy after everything he's been through.

And all the while, being scapegoated because many of the poor teams he was on weren’t succeeding, and when the team did succeed, the credit went to a different player (Butler, Ant).

Great post. +100.

[Zonarosa]

this was an entertaining read on a saturday morning.

Suck a dick.

touchy much?

there are legitimate questions around the move, but the pure overreactions around here are absolutely comical.

[minimus]

Over the last 5 years, Towns has missed more games than Embiid, Paul George, Porzingis, and OG Anuoby