Karl-Anthony Towns is recruiting D’Angelo Russell to Minnesota
By Staff
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 20: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center on April 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 112-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 20: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center on April 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 112-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b38272593479a8bd7fbd610d2044687d7e9bb1d72807d5a5338644d22ad4064f.jpg)
Karl-Anthony Towns knows he’s the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he’s buying into recruiting stars to play with him.
Being a K in Minnesota brings a lot of L’s.
Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love both couldn’t find ways to make the Timberwolves a successful franchise, and Karl-Anthony Towns is trying to break the cycle. After signing a max contract last year, Towns is the latest face of the Wolves franchise and he’s doing what those who came before him did — recruiting top talent to try and make Minnesota a winner.
Rather than go Big Game hunting for Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant, Towns is looking at D’Angelo Russell. The Nets guard had a renaissance season, guiding Brooklyn on a surprise playoff run and re-establishing himself as a name basketball fans should be familiar with.
Towns is already out recruiting DLo, planting seeds on his Instagram story that he and Wolves fans hope will grow into something more.
https://twitter.com/BR_NBA/status/1136022061543874561
Someone even went as far as to photoshop Russell into a Timberwolves jersey — and it looks pretty good.
Russell is the type of free agent that the Wolves usually aren’t in on but lines up with where the team is in the power structure. They were never going to be in on one of the big fish free agents, but Russell is a big enough name to make waves while also flying low enough on the radar that him ending up in Minnesota isn’t outrageous to imagine.
Jeff Teague is still under contract for one more season at $19 million, which complicates things slightly but doesn’t rule anything out. The main thing that would hold up a deal, outside of a lack of interest, is the fact that Brooklyn can match whatever offer Russell gets this summer — and likely will.
More importantly, Towns is on the recruiting trail trying to build the Wolves in his vision. That’s at least enough to get fans excited about what the future might hold.