With just a few weeks before the new season, the Minnesota Timberwolves shook the basketball world by sending their former franchise superstar, Karl-Anthony Towns, to the New York Knicks. As fans and experts debate who won the trade, the word on the street is that the Timberwolves believe this was the only way to maximize their title window with Anthony Edwards.
"The Wolves made the deal to maximize Edwards’ window for the long haul," wrote Jon Krawczynski of The Atletic . "The Wolves wanted to make sure Edwards could be on a competitive playoff team for much longer than just the next two years and believe the flexibility this move provides will aid that pursuit."
Towns was the longest-tenured Timberwolves star. He was drafted first overall in 2015 and developed into a star in Minnesota with career averages of 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on 52.4% shooting.
For the past nine years, he's committed everything to the franchise and has poured his resources back into the city through charity efforts and other projects. Towns became a favorite among the fans for how he embraced their culture and they never imagined he'd be leaving anytime soon.
But with the ascension of Anthony Edwards , the Timberwolves feel that now is the time to go all-in on their title pursuit. The young superstar is coming off a breakout season in the NBA with averages of 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 46.1% shooting.
He raised his game in the postseason and was crucial during the Timberwolves' historic run to the Western Conference Finals. All things considered, the season was a massive success for the Timberwolves and the expectation was for them to run it back for the 2024-25 campaign.
Instead, they decided the team still wasn't good enough. By swapping Towns for Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, and a future first-round pick, the Knicks traded star power for depth and they're hoping that it will be the key to taking another step up in the West.
With teams like the Grizzlies, Mavericks, Nuggets, Clippers, and Thunder all expected to compete for the top six spots, the margin for error will be slim this season and the Timberwolves will need to be better than ever to keep up with the best in their Conference.
In truth, the pressure falls on Edwards himself more than anyone. The young star may only be 23 but with the way that he's been talking, fans and former players will be eager to see how he lives up to his reputation as one of the best in his position.
For the Timberwolves' sake, Edwards needs to reach his ultimate potential as a player, and as he begins his fifth NBA season there is hope that he can prove himself as an MVP-caliber player and that's what it will take to lead his team to success in the West.
Without Towns, the road ahead is unclear for the Timberwolves but it's clear that the front office is willing to do whatever it takes to make the most of Edwards' time there, even if it means letting go of a signature part of their past.
Related: Anthony Edwards Sends A Strong Message: "Last Year Was Like An Appetizer. This Year We Want The Whole Meal."
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