5 NBA players who definitely aren’t getting traded this summer
By Ian Levy
1. Karl-Anthony Towns
This has been a hot one lately, with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst causally mentioning that he could see the Timberwolves considering trading Towns this summer.
Stahp.
Yes, Towns’ lack of defensive improvement has been troubling and continues to problematic for the Timberwolves present and future. Yes, he would be much easier to move than Andrew Wiggins and would fetch a much greater haul. But that’s because his ceiling is much higher than anyone else’s on the roster, potentially transformational.
He’s already ninth on the all-time list for Win Shares through an age-22 season, trailing only LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Chris Paul, Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. It sounds hyperbolic but to be this good this young puts him on a potentially Hall-of-Fame track. Even if his defense only hits average, his offensive game is incredible enough to make him one of the best players in the league.
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It’s worth noting that Tom Thibodeau’s tenure has not been good for Towns’ development in the ways most people anticipated — not coaxing defensive growth and not necessarily utilizing him on offense in an optimal way. Towns is fantastic, he can get better. Even if Thibodeau doesn’t agree, there’s no way owner Glen Taylor signs off on this one.