When is Towns asking out?

[AbeVigodaLive]

So... some people think things are spiraling in the NBA right now. The Player Entitlement era is in overdrive with one of the league's top 5 players choosing strip clubs during a pandemic over training camp with his teammates, despite multiple years on his contract.

It's outlandish. And it might serve as the catalyst for everything to chill a bit. There seems to be more blowback than ever before. But are we sure of this? It's likely Harden ends up on a championship-level team when the dust settles. So why wouldn't the next guy ask out... and the next. And the next?

We don't have to search far until the speculative list reaches Karl Anthony Towns. And, considering all the star players leaving GOOD teams on seemingly a whim... why should Towns stay here?

The Wolves suck. They aren't competing for anything this year. And very likely not next year, since they'll be relying on the same players. And, unlike other stars, the Wolves ineptitude has already directly cost Towns money.

Plus, he's become the poster boy for the team's ineptitude (see any comments about defense). So... why would he stay? What's the downside with asking out? More and more fans are coming around on the new age of stars where stars' demands of wanting out are met with "that organization sucks" and "they deserve to play where they want," commentary.

Now, we can say that Towns will be different. Ok. We can play that game a bit longer.
Or, we can say "who cares until it actually happens." Ok. But we talk about players potential two or three years down the line all the time here... and speculate on it. Personally, I think any long-term speculation for this team begins and ends with Towns.

[thedoper]

I think it will be before the trade deadline this year. Hope Im wrong.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Well, I hopped on the "trade Towns" train last season after finally concluding that it is really hard to build a contending team around a big man that can't defend well (Abe was always a step ahead on this).

Add to that the string of bad things that have happened to KAT and his Family while he's been with the Wolves (some of it which is directly the fault of the Wolves and some of it just guilt by association):
- The piling up of losses and mIssed all-star games
- KAT's Dad getting hurt in a freak accident caused by Crunch, the team mascot (this one especially gets me....I mean, you can't make this shit up!).
- The Butler disaster
- The impression (his impression to be specific) that the officials are out to get him. Perhaps he feels if he played for a team on the coast, he won't be picked on as much.
- Covid (nothing to do with the Wolves of course, but just another bad memory to add to the list).

So for a variety of reasons, I think he wants out. I think he'll make a half-hearted go of it to start the season, but yeah, once the losing starts, it won't take long for he and his agent to spring into action.

[FNG]

I think NBA players are driven by four main factors- money, playing time, the chance to win a championship and the opportunity to hang with best friends. Then I would put relationship with the coaching staff next, far ahead of the oft-mentioned weather factor. KAT has the first two needs met wherever he plays, so they are irrelevant. So I think the next most important factor for him is Russell. They are best friends and were both clearly delighted when D-Lo was traded to the Wolves. They both likely have inflated opinions of themselves and see themselves as key parts of a nucleus that can compete. So, I don't see greener pastures for KAT...I see him staying here until the end of his contract, unless we decide to trade him.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think NBA players are driven by four main factors- money, playing time, the chance to win a championship and the opportunity to hang with best friends. Then I would put relationship with the coaching staff next, far ahead of the oft-mentioned weather factor. KAT has the first two needs met wherever he plays, so they are irrelevant. So I think the next most important factor for him is Russell. They are best friends and were both clearly delighted when D-Lo was traded to the Wolves. They both likely have inflated opinions of themselves and see themselves as key parts of a nucleus that can compete. So, I don't see greener pastures for KAT...I see him staying here until the end of his contract, unless we decide to trade him.

Don't forget that the Houston front office also indulged Harden's desires....only for him to ultimately want to jettison the very players he wanted to bring in. Now he wants out of a situation very much of his own making. What a dick. I hope Houston stands firm and makes things a bit uncomfortable for him along the way, similar to how the Pelicans didn't immediately roll over with AD (that couldn't have been fun for him, although he ultimately got what he wanted).

As for KAT and DLO, these guys all look at their own personal brands and interests first and foremost. DLO would probably understand if KAT wanted out and chalk it up to "that's just business".

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

If he doesn't show up and play defense this year on a level we haven't seen I really don't care when the request to get out comes. He'd be doing us a favor at that point. His reputation nationally is not good enough where he's going to get to pick his landing spot so we'll be able to get a haul for him. I just wish the timing was better where Harden to Philly, Simmons to MN, Towns to Hou made sense but MN and Philly are trying to see if they can make what they have work one more year and I just don't see Harden lasting the whole year in Houston.

[kekgeek]

I think he is going to ask out very soon. Also I think this player empowerment era makes it almost impossible for the Wolves to win a title. We are in a terrible market and the only superstar that has maybe wanted to stay in a midwest market has been Giannis and that is still to be seen if he stays.

Pretty much players will stay there 1st contract and then ask out and go to a place where they want to play, with there buddies.

It is sort of like these midwestern teams like the Wolves are a G-League programs that build up talent for the big markets to get there talent. The only chance the Wolves have is get a player who is wired diffferntly (Probably a Euro type player) or Jalen Suggs and Chet Holgrem who are from Minnesota who have Star NBA potential want to stay home but that is unlikely

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think he is going to ask out very soon. Also I think this player empowerment era makes it almost impossible for the Wolves to win a title. We are in a terrible market and the only superstar that has maybe wanted to stay in a midwest market has been Giannis and that is still to be seen if he stays.

Pretty much players will stay there 1st contract and then ask out and go to a place where they want to play, with there buddies.

It is sort of like these midwestern teams like the Wolves are a G-League programs that build up talent for the big markets to get there talent. The only chance the Wolves have is get a player who is wired diffferntly (Probably a Euro type player) or Jalen Suggs and Chet Holgrem who are from Minnesota who have Star NBA potential want to stay home but that is unlikely

I agree it's damn near impossible to win an NBA title in our market. But I'd honestly be happy with the type of success Utah or Memphis has had over the years. It is possible to field very competitive, playoff-caliber teams for multiple years while being in a less-than-ideal market.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I think he is going to ask out very soon. Also I think this player empowerment era makes it almost impossible for the Wolves to win a title. We are in a terrible market and the only superstar that has maybe wanted to stay in a midwest market has been Giannis and that is still to be seen if he stays.

Pretty much players will stay there 1st contract and then ask out and go to a place where they want to play, with there buddies.

It is sort of like these midwestern teams like the Wolves are a G-League programs that build up talent for the big markets to get there talent. The only chance the Wolves have is get a player who is wired diffferntly (Probably a Euro type player) or Jalen Suggs and Chet Holgrem who are from Minnesota who have Star NBA potential want to stay home but that is unlikely

I agree it's damn near impossible to win an NBA title in our market. But I'd honestly be happy with the type of success Utah or Memphis has had over the years. It is possible to field very competitive, playoff-caliber teams for multiple years while being in a less-than-ideal market.

Yes.

Everybody should know my take about championships by now (Who the F cares... just make the gawd-damn playoffs first!!!!!!)...

And I think even that level of success would play well here. The one rub is that if Player Entitlement gets even worse, will things start to be unsustainable?

For the longest time, I've wanted Giannis to stay in Milwaukee. It gave me hope that it's possible. But I'm almost going against that now -- only because I'm hoping it can become the flashpoint to help out smaller (less desirable) market teams with a more sustainable long-term fix. If he stays, no matter how many other stars leave, we'll keep seeing "Quit your whining. Look at Giannis. He stayed."

[Wolvesfan21]

Get rid of max contracts! That in of itself allows multiple top 5 players join forces (AD and LeBron) and be the heavy favorites. Both players should be the lone superstar on a team without how grossly underpaid they are. Create a stricter Lux cap as well. Competitiveness will come down to assembling a great team and coaching, not how many stars you can land!!! (not that coaching has ever helped the WOLVES MUCH!!!)