Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 possible Karl-Anthony Towns trade packages

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves returns to the bench during the third quarter of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Target Center on May 5, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves 135-139. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

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Minnesota Timberwolves (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Possible trade Timberwolves trade partners for Karl-Anthony Towns: 3. New Orleans Pelicans

If the Timberwolves are bent on competing for a playoff spot this coming season, setting up the new ownership group to be competitive once they take over the following season, calling up the New Orleans Hornets makes plenty of sense. They can offer a replacement big man to keep the continuity of the roster while adding a young All-Star locked in on a long-term contract to the core of Anthony Edwards, D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley.

Making the salary work involves Jonas Valanciunas and Brandon Ingram for Towns and Josh Okogie. New Orleans has multiple first-round picks in every draft from 2023 through 2027. They can drop a bounty of future assets on the Pelicans to augment the return while also giving them the best forward the team has seen since Jimmy Butler departed. Russell and Ingram have some level of familiarity, playing together in Ingram’s rookie year with the Los Angeles Lakers before Russell was shipped off to the Brooklyn Nets. Both have become All-Stars and max contract players since then. This would be an offensive force to be reckoned with.

For the Pelicans, the fit between Ingram and Zion Williamson has been suspect at best. Pairing Williamson with a floor-spacing big like Towns could unlock the floor for both players to feast on opposing defenses. Okogie is a low-key great snag here for his on-ball defense and toughness. Eventually, David Griffin needs to stop playing the piano and cash in his chips to make his young star happy. This could a long way.

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