X

Karl-Anthony Towns Rumors: Warriors, Wolves Spoke Before Julius Randle, Knicks Deal

Adam WellsOctober 22, 2024

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 06: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts in the first quarter during a preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on October 06, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Before the New York Knicks pulled off a surprise late-offseason blockbuster trade to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns, the Golden State Warriors had at least some level of interest in the four-time All-Star.

Per The Athletic's Anthony Slater, the Warriors "had a conversation" with the Minnesota Timberwolves about Towns that "didn't go anywhere" in part because Golden State didn't have the package of assets to satisfy what the T-Wolves were seeking.

Towns was traded to the Knicks on Oct. 3 in a three-team deal that also involved the Charlotte Hornets. Minnesota got Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round draft pick in the deal.

The Warriors have been trying to find another star player to join Stephen Curry for awhile with no success. They did apparently come close to landing Paul George over the summer.

George said on his podcast in July that a sign-and-trade agreement between the Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers "was close to being done" before it fell apart.

Per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, the Warriors proposed multiple trade packages to the Clippers built around expiring contracts, young players and an unprotected 2027 first-round pick.

The Clippers wanted Jonathan Kuminga in a deal, but the Warriors were reluctant to move the 22-year-old because they consider him a big part of their future. George wound up signing a four-year, $212 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Golden State was also involved in trade talks with the Utah Jazz about Lauri Markkanen before he signed an extension.

Slater, Shams Charania and Tony Jones reported in August the Warriors' most aggressive offer for Markkanen was centered around Moses Moody, multiple first-round picks, pick swaps and second-rounders.

The Kuminga aspect of all these talks is interesting because the Warriors elected not to sign him to an extension before the Monday deadline expired. Slater noted the two sides were "never all that close" in negotiations.

NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Pool reported Kuminga wanted a salary "well beyond" $30 million per season on an extension. He'll be a restricted free agent next summer, with the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards the only teams projected to have any significant cap space.

The Warriors could simply be betting on Kuminga not wanting to join a team that is in a long-term rebuild with the hope of potentially keeping him at a rate closer to what they want to pay him, rather than what he thinks the market will have to offer.

It's a very tricky proposition for a Warriors franchise that is trying to balance winning in the remaining years of Stephen Curry's prime with setting themselves up for the future without an obvious superstar successor.