Golden State Warriors Receive: C Karl-Anthony Towns, CHA 2024 2nd Round Pick (via OKC), PHI 2025 2nd Round Pick (via OKC)
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: C Al Horford, C James Wiseman, MIN 2021 1st Round Pick (Top-3 Protected, via GSW), SAS 2021 1st Round Pick (unprotected), MIN 2021 2nd Round Pick (via GSW), GSW 2022 1st Round Pick (Top-8 Protected), TOR 2022 2nd Round Pick (Protected 55-60, via GSW)
San Antonio Spurs Receive: F Andrew Wiggins, F Eric Paschall
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: SAS 2023 1st Round Pick (Top-10 Protected)
If the Warriors are to go after Karl-Anthony Towns, not only will they have to be ready to pay even more luxury taxes than they already do, but they will have to be prepared to give up a ton of assets in return. KAT is just 25-years-old and with him already being one of the most dominant players in the league, his value is as high as almost any other player in this league.
He can not only be a building block for any team in this league over the next few years, but for a team like the Warriors, who have three All-Star caliber players in Curry, Thompson and Green, adding Towns to the equation can immediately elevate them back into title contention in the Western Conference.
In order for this trade to be done though, a couple teams will need to be involved since Andrew Wiggins will need to be moved off of the Warriors’ roster and the Timberwolves will likely not want him back. They originally traded Wiggins to Golden State at the NBA trade deadline last year, along with some of the draft picks they would be getting back in this deal, for D’Angelo Russell.
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We will get back to the Timberwolves, but let’s talk about the Spurs and the Thunder, two teams that would unexpectedly be involved in this deal. The Spurs have never really been a team to make big moves through trades, but if they are to lose DeMar DeRozan in free agency, they will have a massive hole to fill on the wing.
Andrew Wiggins fits their mold of an athletic, young wing who can not only fit in with their current group of young players, but be a fantastic two-way talent for them inthe type of balanced system that they play. Quite honestly, San Antonio may be the best place for Wiggins to continue his career because of the opportunities he will have to be “the guy” there and the fact that they have a ton of other athletic players to compliment him.
As for the Thunder, they have come to an agreement with Al Horford that he will be sitting for the remainder of the season in order to get some of the younger players on OKC’s roster more playing time. Horford is not expected to be on the Thunder’s roster to open the year next season and as a result, they will be looking to move him in the offseason. Giving up two first-round picks and Horford for a first-round pick from the Spurs is definitely worthwhile and exactly what the Thunder would want — another first-round draft pick to add to their collection!
Now, let’s take a closer look at this massive trade scenario as a whole and take a look at what this trade could mean for each team.
