The Phoenix Suns should not trade for Karl-Anthony Towns
By Adam Maynes
When rumors began flying that Karl-Anthony Towns might be available and the Phoenix Suns might have the pieces to trade for him, it got me thinking – he isn’t worth it.
Prior to learning that the Phoenix Suns would have the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, if anyone would have come to me and said that Karl-Anthony Towns was available and that the Suns might have the assets (sans Devin Booker) to pull of a trade, I would have been ecstatic.
When all is said and down, Towns will probably be recognized as a “generational” center who is not only a beast in the post, but actually Minnesota’s best 3-point shooter. He is absolutely one of the best centers in the league right now (arguably the best, in fact), and may one day even be considered as one of the greatest centers in NBA history (don’t even scoff at that notion either. Look at his stats).
Not to mention, he is one of Devin Booker‘s best friends.
Talk about synergy.
Having those two superstars on the court together is enough to make every Suns fan salovate at the opportunity, especially for a fanbase that has been dying for a winner for eight years now.
Not to mention, the team would beginning winning right away, something that might not happen with DeAndre Ayton as he would need at least a year or two to learn the NBA style and develop his own game. While Ayton could easily be the Rookie of the Year (as Towns was in 2015), he likely wouldn’t be enough to drag Phoenix into the playoffs in 2019. Certainly he could be a cog, and General Manager Ryan McDonough has stated numerous times this offseason that he is looking to improve the team and expects a significant roster shakeup, Towns could actually come in and on his back alone carry the Suns to at least the eighth-seed.
But for every positive there is a negative. In every image of perfection, there is a flaw.
As great as Karl-Anthony Towns is, there are two very specific reasons why the Phoenix Suns should avoid trading for him, staying the course that has been presented to them by winning the first overall pick in the draft – and the ability to select DeAndre Ayton.
But first, how much would it actually cost to pry Towns away from Minnesota?