The New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves might be able to help each other get a fresh start with a trade for Karl-Anthony Towns.
Both teams have underperformed this season after coming in with dreams of the playoffs. In the case of the Pelicans, the expectations were probably set a little too high for a young team that has a new coach and only had a shortened offseason to get acclimated.
The Pelicans still fancy themselves as playoff hopefuls, but each loss brings them closer to the reality that they are not there yet and will probably be back in the lottery.
The Timberwolves are a mess, though they have to be excited about what they’ve seen from rookie Anthony Edwards, who looks every bit like the number one pick they hoped he would be.
But the Timberwolves are still the worst team in the NBA, with a bunch of guys who do not fit together and may need a change of scenery to thrive.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a guy who has had a lot of individual success in the league but has not yet won many games which may have him looking for a more talented cast of players to surround himself with.
If so, the New Orleans Pelicans should pick up the phone.
New Orleans Pelicans: Two trades for Karl-Anthony Towns
I have mentioned KAT as one of the good players on a bad team that the Pelicans should target.
I have come up with two ways for the Pelicans to land KAT, who would be a nice fit with Zion Williamson because of his ability to stretch the floor.
The first trade would be if Minnesota wanted to clear cap space, get some young players and build around Edwards.
In this trade, the Timberwolves get two expiring contracts, two project players with upside and three first-round picks, which is quite a haul for KAT, who has missed a lot of time this season.
The Timberwolves would be able to start fresh with loads of cap space, draft picks and young talent to build around. The cap space might not land them a free agent but they could use it to make trades, and absorb contracts in exchange for even more assets.
If the Timberwolves are tired of watching this team lose, then this would be a move to start over.
But there are other options.