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On Friday, the Minnesota Timberwolves made headlines by advancing trade negotiations with the New York Knicks regarding their longest-tenured player, four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. This move comes on the heels of the Timberwolves’ first conference final appearance in 20 years, indicating a significant shift in their strategy.
How much money will Minnesota Timberwolves save from Karl-Anthony Towns trade?
According to NBA salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan, trading Towns would allow the Timberwolves to avoid approximately $26.5 million in payroll taxes and luxury tax fines. Despite this potential cost-saving measure, Minnesota is still projected to exceed the $188.9 million second apron threshold next season, which could complicate their financial flexibility.
Rudy Gobert, currently eligible for a contract extension, may opt for a lower starting salary to help the Timberwolves manage their budget better. This adjustment could facilitate re-signing Naz Reid during the upcoming summer.
Towns, who is 28 years old, is set to begin a new four-year contract worth $220 million. In contrast, potential incoming trade assets like Donte DiVincenzo (three years at $36 million) and Julius Randle (two years remaining on a $50 million contract) come with more manageable financial obligations.
This offseason has seen many NBA teams forced to make drastic moves to trim salaries due to stringent penalties associated with exceeding the second apron. Teams that find themselves over this threshold face significant restrictions, including losing access to the taxpayer midlevel exception and limitations on trading and signing free agents.
While the Timberwolves’ new ownership appears focused on financial sustainability, fans may not react positively to the potential trade of Towns, viewing it as a move driven primarily by monetary concerns rather than competitive aspirations. As the situation develops, the implications for the team’s future will be closely watched by both fans and analysts alike.