Entering the final season before a $61 million player option, Karl-Anthony Towns expected extension talks to go well with the New York Knicks after just winning an NBA championship. Long story short, negotiations between Towns and the Knicks have stalled, leaving the door open for him to hit unrestricted free agency next summer. This aligns perfectly with the LA Clippers, who are projected to have the third-most cap space in the league.
As a result, along with the Atlanta Hawk and Golden State Warriors, Brian Windhorst of ESPN says the Clippers are preparing to offer Towns top dollar. While they have no business making a long-term commitment to a soon-to-be 31-year-old center, they need to become a threat in the Western Conference, given how bleak their future looks after five first-round picks were taken away from them during the offseason.
Adding Towns accomplishes that goal and creates a fun pairing with Darius Garland, who is already on the Clippers’ books for the long run.
The Clippers need to pursue Karl-Anthony Towns with all of their might
Although Karl-Anthony Towns might be in his 30s, making it less ideal for a team focused heavily on youth to offer him a pretty penny, he is in the midst of his prime. All of the happiness that was lost due to the outcome of the Kawhi Leonard investigation would suddenly be rejuvenated by bringing Towns to LA.
Towns has the numbers, resume, and mindset any team would want. The Clippers would be lucky to have him.
Last season, capped by a championship, Towns averaged 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 75 games, shooting 50.1% from the field and 36.8% from a distance. He was also an All-Star and one of the biggest All-NBA snubs.
Towns is elite at scoring, rebounding, and shooting from distance. This archetype is rare, but the six-time All-Star does more; he plays defense well.
By using his strength, especially in the paint, sharpening his instincts, holding his ground on perimeter switches, and being a reliable source of help defense, Towns has transformed the narrative around his name on that side of the ball.
Overall, he is more than competent as a defender, and definitely one of the better two-way centers in basketball.
That said, the Clippers have the right mindset of preparing to send a massive offer to Towns’ inbox. They just need to execute that plan as well as they can.
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