NBA Rumors: Wolves Aim to 'Maximize' Anthony Edwards' Future with Towns-Knicks Trade

The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly dealt Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round pick (from the Detroit Pistons) to "maximize Anthony Edwards' window for the long haul," per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic:

"The Wolves made the deal to maximize Edwards' window for the long haul, team sources told The Athletic. 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. Dealing Towns also could help them retain Reid, a wildly popular player in Minnesota who could be a free agent next summer."

The deal notably lets Minnesota shed Towns' four-year, $220.4 million extension, which kicks in this season. Randle has two years and nearly $60 million left on his contract (if he picks up his 2025-26 player option), and DiVincenzo has a team-friendly four-year, $46.8 million deal that runs out in 2027. This ultimately gives the Timberwolves plenty of flexibility moving forward in shaping the roster around Edwards.

Ultimately, Minnesota appeared to make the move to give the team more options to retain other pieces on the roster moving forward. Krawczynski added more insight.

"As the Timberwolves analyzed their cap situation and looked at the landscape across the league, it was getting harder and harder for the Wolves to see a scenario where they could keep this team intact beyond this season, team sources said. Edwards is beginning a five-year max contract this season, [Rudy Gobert] has two years remaining on his max and Towns was starting a four-year, $220 million max extension this season. Add to it big raises for [Jaden McDaniels] this season and [Naz Reid] last season, and the Wolves had entered the dreaded second apron that brings with it luxury tax penalties and obstacles for team-building meant to strongly discourage teams from crossing that threshold for more than a couple of seasons."

In addition, Krawczynski wrote that keeping Towns aboard "likely would have meant" parting ways with Naz Reid and "likely" Nickeil Alexander-Walker too.

There is also the matter of losing millions of dollars due to the luxury tax, per ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

"Minnesota, a franchise that has generally operated frugally for decades, was facing losing more than $100 million this season, sources said, because of a whopper of a luxury tax bill coming due with new contracts for Towns and Anthony Edwards. But it isn't just about this year; the next few years are potentially monetarily punishing."

The logic may be sound, but it's still a stunning move from Minnesota, as a franchise player who arrived as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft parts ways with the Timberwolves. Minnesota just engineered a 56-win season and a playoff run that included a second-round series win over the then-defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Towns finished second on the team in scoring with 21.8 points on 50.4 percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

But now his time in Minnesota is over as the Timberwolves look to build around Edwards and keep the roster, minus Towns, intact moving forward.