Warriors Almost Traded for Karl-Anthony Towns Before the Knicks Snatched Him Up: Report

Golden State WarriorsThe busy 2024 offseason was notable for both the trades the team didn’t make and the trades Golden State didn’t make.

In addition to allowing five-time All-Star and four-time champion swingman Klay Thompson to be traded away from the Warriors in favor of the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State has actively pursued multiple All-Star and free agent trade targets.

It was well known that Warriors team president Mike Dunleavy Jr. was interested in trading for Utah Jazz All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen.before the 7-footer decided to sign a lucrative five-year, $238 million extension to stay with the lottery team for the long haul.

Markkanen has been strong individually, but he has yet to help Utah win a game this year. He’s averaging 18.0 points on .385/.450/.852 shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per night in four healthy games this year for the 0-5 Jazz.

Karl-Anthony Towns New York Knicks — Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts to a dunk during the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 2024 in New York City. The cities have almost collapsed…

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Golden State also apparently made a bid for the services of nine-time All-Star forward Paul George before the 6-foot-8 Fresno State player opted to sign a four-year, $211.6 million cap deal with the Philadelphia 76ers instead.

The oft-injured George is already injured and has yet to play a regular-season game for Philadelphia in this young season.

The Warriors decided to replace Thompson with more depth on the wing, bringing in former Sixers guards De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield, as well as former Minnesota Timberwolves reserve forward Kyle Anderson.

Golden State is off to an encouraging 4-1 start, although an injury to NBA point guard Stephen Curry has limited the team’s ceiling until he can return.

Now, it appears another impressive frontcourt star has been eyed as a trade target for Dunleavy and company.

Anthony Slater of The Athletic Four-time All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns was also reportedly the subject of trade talks between Golden State and the Minnesota Timberwolves over the summer.

Instead, he was ultimately snatched up by the New York Knicks as it was considered a more desirable trade package, according to Slater.

It’s not hard to see why Towns turned to the altitude-defying Warriors. He’s a true 7-footer who formed a formidable defensive frontcourt team with Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and All-Defensive team small forward Jaden McDaniels on the 56-26 Timberwolves that reached the Western Conference finals last year. . spring.

Towns’ biggest asset, of course, is his offense. The Warriors are in second place in the standings. NBA with 45 triple attempts per game. They make a whopping 39.1 percent of such attempts. Towns is a 39.9 percent three-point shooter on 4.3 attempts from long range per night and is an elite scorer in the paint, mid-range and at the foul line. He could legitimately give the Warriors the ability to run a five-out offense without giving up size at center.

As it stands, former No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft NBA The draft shows unreal numbers in favor of the Knicks 3-2. He’s averaging 22.5 points on an elite .585/.727/.952 line to go along with 11.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.5 blocks and 0.5 steals.

Golden State will just have to wait and count their assets while waiting for the next All-Star trade target to become available. It looks like this could happen sooner rather than later if recent reports are to be believed…

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