The Golden State Warriors are in a tough spot this season, dealing with a roster that just doesn’t look primed for a championship run. Sure, they’ve got Stephen Curry and Draymond Green locked in for three more years. However, snagging another title seems like a long shot. On the flip side, the Timberwolves are facing some real headaches with the second apron; they might have to break up their big three. This becomes more true if they don’t at least make it to the finals next season. Signing Rob Dillingham cost them future first-round picks, so they’re also in desperate need of assets. Given all this, a trade between the Warriors and Wolves could be a solid move for both squads.
In a recent episode of the Locked on Warriors podcast, Charlie Walter threw a question at Ben Beecken about the possibility of a trade partnership between the Warriors and the Timberwolves. Ben said that while the Wolves aren’t eager to move on from Karl-Anthony Towns, the super-max contract kicking in this year is going to complicate things. “As of right now, the luxury tax bill is projected to be over 100 million,” he pointed. The Wolves have really overshot the second apron limit, with their payroll hitting a whopping $205,991,718. This is $17,060,718 over the cap.
“They are not trading Anthony Edwards, obviously. I don’t think they are going to be trading Jaden McDaniels, they value him, he just signed an extension. Rudy Gobert is going to be harder to trade, he is extension eligible. He doesn’t have as much as value as KAT and at the moment, he makes more money and is also going to be doing extension after next season,” Ben added. With all that in mind, trading KAT seems like the most logical play. If the Warriors are in the conversation, Naz Reid could be a possibility, but he’s not on KAT’s level. The Warriors haven’t done much since trading Klay Thompson, aside from grabbing a few role players like Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield. An all-star like KAT would be a massive upgrade for them. But what’s the upside for the Wolves?
The Warriors might not have any superstar names to throw in for KAT, but they’ve got some promising talent like Brandon Podziemski, who really shined in his rookie season, and Jonathan Kuminga, who could bring some much-needed size in the paint for the Wolves. Plus, with all the trade rumors swirling around Andrew Wiggins, could he be part of this deal? Since Wiggins used to play for the Timberwolves, they might consider bringing him back into the fold.
The Wolves are in a tough spot, lacking picks after the Rudy Gobert trade and the acquisition of Rob Dillingham. The Warriors could help sweeten the pot by tossing in some picks. But the real challenge? Matching KAT’s salary to make sure the trade happens if the Wolves are interested.
“There’s probably multiple teams involved”- Ben Beecken on a Minnesota Timberwolves-Golden State Warriors trade
The Warriors might not look like they’ve got the best options for KAT. But the Timberwolves are in a tough spot this season because of the second apron rules. They could be open to a deal, but to make KAT’s salary work, they might need another team in the mix. Ben Beecken pointed out, “I think if Kat ends up getting moved, there’s probably multiple teams involved and maybe there’s other assets coming the wolves way.”
Even if the Wolves aren’t super eager to let go of KAT, Naz Reid could still be a decent option for the Warriors, though let’s keep it real—you’re not building your offense around him. He’s got his strengths, but he’s not in KAT’s league. Andrew Wiggins, on the other hand, is possibly a solid fit. He’s a two-way player who can balance out the Wolves’ roster and give Anthony Edwards some extra support on offense. But as Ben pointed out, if another team gets involved, what the Warriors offer depends on that third team’s needs.
There’s no guarantee anything will go down between the Warriors and Wolves. However, they’ve got time before the trade window closes. A deal that benefits both teams could definitely pop up, or they might look at other options. That unpredictability is what makes the NBA so exciting! What do you think? Are you feeling optimistic about potential moves?
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