Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns is expected to be one of the most coveted big men on the trade market in the 2021 offseason. The Timberwolves may have not shown a strong indication that they are planning to move Towns but with their inability to contend for the NBA championship title, most people believe that it would only be a matter of time before the former No. 1 overall pick follows in the footsteps of other superstars and start finding his way out of Minnesota.
Karl-Anthony Towns Goes To New Orleans
Once he becomes officially available on the trading block, Towns is expected to receive strong interest from title contenders that are in dire need of a frontcourt boost and rebuilding teams that want to speed up their timeline. According to Brett Siegel of NBA Analysis Network, one of the potential landing spots for Towns in the 2021 offseason is the New Orleans Pelicans. With the improvements shown by Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans could be planning to be more aggressive in upgrading their roster this summer.
Potential Pelicans’ Trade Package For Karl-Anthony Towns
With a plethora of precious trade assets, the Pelicans would be in a strong position to engage in a blockbuster deal if the Timberwolves would consider moving Towns. In his article, Siegel came up with a blockbuster trade idea that would enable the Pelicans to acquire Towns from the Timberwolves in the 2021 offseason. In the proposed trade scenario, the Pelicans would be sending a package that includes Lonzo Ball, Jaxson Hayes, a 2021 first-round pick, a 2022 first-round pick, a 2024 first-round pick, and the rights to swap first-rounders in 2023 and 2025 to the Timberwolves in exchange for Towns.
Pelicans Need Lonzo Ball’s Cooperation To Facilitate The Trade
The Pelicans’ suggested offer is definitely enough to convince the Timberwolves to send Towns to New Orleans in the 2021 offseason. They wouldn’t only be receiving two young and promising players in Ball and Hayes, but also plenty of future draft assets. However, before they could push through with the trade, the Pelicans would first need to persuade Ball to agree to a sign-and-trade deal to Minnesota. Per Spotrac, Ball is set to become a restricted free agent after the 2020-21 NBA season.
Before he agrees to a sign-and-trade deal to the Timberwolves, Ball would likely demand a contract that would pay him $ 20 million per year and an assurance that he would be a permanent starter on the team.
Karl-Anthony Towns Forms Lethal Trio With Brandon Ingram And Zion Williamson
Trading all those assets would be worth it for the Pelicans if it means acquiring a player of Towns’ caliber. Towns would tremendously boost their performance on both ends of the floor, giving them a very reliable scoring option under the basket, a monster rebounder, facilitator, rim protector, and floor-spacer.
This season, he’s averaging 24.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc, per ESPN. His arrival in New Orleans wouldn’t make them an instant favorite to bring home the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but pairing him with Ingram and Williamson could realistically turn them from a rebuilding team into a legitimate playoff contender in the loaded Western Conference.
