The Golden State Warriors had a busy offseason this summer, but the team reportedly had additional plans as well. It has been well-documented that the Warriors attempted to trade for Lauri Markkanen and Paul George in the offseason. Ultimately, neither one of those trades came to fruition. However, per the latest reports, the Warriors had their eyes on a different star as well. Per The Athletic (subscription required), the Warriors “had a conversation” with the Minnesota Timberwolves in an attempt to land big man Karl-Anthony Towns.
“In the last couple of months, the Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves had a conversation about Karl-Anthony Towns, league sources said, but it didn’t go anywhere. The Timberwolves targeted a specific package from the New York Knicks that the Warriors didn’t possess. There’s no other obvious big name immediately available as the regular season arrives.”
The Timberwolves did eventually trade Towns, just not to the Warriors. At the beginning of the month, the Timberwolves shockingly traded the 28-year-old to the New York Knicks. In return, they acquired Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
Golden State Warriors Attempted to Trade for Karl-Anthony Towns
What Karl-Anthony Towns Would Have Brought to the Warriors
A lot of it depends on what the package would have been, but there is no denying that Towns would have made the Warriors a significantly better team. Arguably Golden State’s biggest problem is their depth at center. Currently, per ESPN, they are slated to start Draymond Green at center. While his versatility is significant, having him as their starting center is not ideal. Furthermore, their depth even beyond Green is a bit concerning as well. Towns is one of the best big men in the NBA. Additionally, his ability to stretch the floor and be a perimeter threat would have provided a lot of value to Golden State.
For a team like the Warriors, a blockbuster trade like this would have been huge. They missed the playoffs last season and do not look like legitimate title contenders this year. With Green, Stephen Curry, and head coach Steve Kerr still around, it is tough to count Golden State out entirely. However, there is no denying they have a tough road ahead of them. The Western Conference is extremely competitive and deep. Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Timberwolves, and the Denver Nuggets will likely place higher than the Warriors in the standings. The Warriors look like a good team on paper, but there is no guarantee they are a playoff team. Adding Towns to the mix likely would have changed that.
The Last Word
Though they did not land Towns, the Warriors still had a solid offseason. They dealt with numerous losses, most notably Klay Thompson, who signed with the Dallas Mavericks. Additionally, the team moved on from Chris Paul and Dario Saric as well. However, they added some valuable pieces as well.
In the offseason, the Warriors acquired Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, and De’Anthony Melton. All three of these players will have a big role in Golden State this season.
The Warriors are one of the most interesting teams in the league heading into the 2024-25 season. They look completely different than they did one year ago, but nobody can gather what that means just yet. Regardless, the Warriors begin their campaign tomorrow on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers.
