NBA Executive Suggests Karl-Anthony Towns-Jaylen Brown Swap

Though the Boston Celtics are on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Jaylen Brown trade rumors continue.

After another quick postseason exit for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the franchise may be looking to move on from Karl-Anthony Towns. Since the big man’s arrival in 2015, the Timberwolves have yet to make the Western Conference Semifinals.

Despite a lack of team success, Towns’ value on the trade market is projected to be high.

The three-time All-Star has a career average of 23 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Towns is also Minnesota’s franchise leader in three-point field goals, with nearly 40-percent accuracy over seven seasons, and won the 2022 NBA Three-Point Contest.

An anonymous NBA executive told Heavy’s Sean Deveney that Towns could be traded to the Boston Celtics.

"Among the teams executives mentioned as potential suitors for Towns: Brooklyn and Miami (two teams that will inevitably come up in any potential superstar trade talks in the next six months, though the Heat’s Jimmy Butler has a rocky history with Towns), Portland (in a Damian Lillard deal?) and Indiana. Should Boston consider dealing away All-Star wing Jaylen Brown, which is a longshot, the Celtics could offer the best single player in return for Towns."

Rumors have circulated that Jaylen Brown, set to become a free agent in 2024, intends to leave Boston. If the Celtics wing expresses disinterest in resigning, then a trade for Towns could be on the table.

The anonymous executive, however, suggested that this trade idea is a longshot to happen, which is true for various reasons.

A Brown-Towns swap would make the Celtics more one-dimensional. Brown’s versatility makes him flexible at various positions, while Towns presents as a one-way center.

Injuries are another concern for Towns. He missed more than 50 games of the regular season due to a calf injury. Similarly, during the 2019-2020 season, a knee and wrist injury held him to 35 games played.

The Celtics’ front office must also think about the long-term effects of the trade. The seven-foot center is signed to a four-year, $224 million super max contract extension, which expires in 2028.

If, in this hypothetical scenario, Towns doesn’t mesh into the team’s dynamic or remain healthy, the franchise risks their recent prosperity. Last year, the duo of Brown and Tatum led the Celtics to their first NBA Finals appearance in over a decade.

Overall, Boston should aim to keep their core relatively unchanged for 2024. As of April 26th, SI Sportsbook projects the Celtics to win this year’s NBA championship. If Brown, however, did force a trade, the ideal target would be another multifaceted wing.

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