Los Angeles Lakers: Why a Karl-Anthony Towns trade should happen

3. The Los Angeles Lakers are one of few realistic trade partners to make this happen

It obviously takes two to tango when executing a trade in the NBA. In return for Anthony-Towns, assuming Minnesota would be hitting the reset button, the team would be looking to add young talent and draft picks.

The problem with that model is that most teams with young talent and draft picks are not in a state to sacrifice those pieces to contend. And the teams on the cusp that would benefit from acquiring Towns may not have the trade chips to make this happen.

The Los Angeles Lakers have the trade chips to make this happen. Not only do they have the pieces, but the Lakers are willing to part ways with anyone. According to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, the front office has deemed that no young star is untouchable.

The asking price for Towns would be high but the Lakers could match it with any combination of young talent. With incoming stars, potentially at the small forward position, trading Brandon Ingram may even be a reality at some point.

There aren’t any other teams that really match the perfect fit scenario like the Los Angeles Lakers. The Phoenix Suns are probably the biggest competition with yet another high draft pick and a ton of highly touted young stars on the roster. Plus, it helps that Towns and Devin Booker were teammates at Kentucky.

Aside from the Suns, finding a realistic trade partner for Towns is difficult. While there still are other teams that could make it work, most of the teams with the tradeable assets wouldn’t really gain anything from Towns.

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Thus, the Los Angeles Lakers should become the first team the Minnesota Timberwolves dial if the front office does indeed explore a Karl-Anthony Towns trade.