Lowe - How the Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards' superstar ascension has led to the redemption of Karl-Anthony Towns - ESPN

Karl-Anthony Towns could easily be elsewhere. The Minnesota Timberwolves have certainly received trade inquiries, especially after the first year of the Towns-Rudy Gobert experiment resulted in stilted offense and a disappointing first-round loss.

Some of the offers were decent, sources said. Others were of the ambulance-chasing variety; Minnesota is facing a massive financial crunch starting next season, and dealing Towns as he approaches the start of a four-year, $220 million-plus extension was one plausible escape route.

Every trade of the magnitude of Minnesota's 2022 deal for Gobert encompasses wagers on and against every part of the roster. It was foremost a bet on Gobert's defense, and then on Anthony Edwards — then just approaching his 21st birthday — developing into an alpha scorer-playmaker before Gobert, now almost 32, exited his prime.

In some ways, it was a bet against Towns — a vote of no confidence in his defense and rim protection as a center. The conundrum of Towns was that his offense sang loudest at that position. He may well be, as he claims, the greatest shooting big man ever; his ability to drag opposing centers away from the paint unlocked Minnesota's offense. He is polished enough in the post to punish switches. But what did it matter if the Wolves could never cobble a good enough defense?

Acquiring Gobert would shift Towns to power forward. Would his shooting be less valuable there? He'd no longer be yanking opposing rim-protectors outside; those guys would be guarding Gobert. He would no longer be the No. 1 option on offense either; Edwards was coming for that, and the Wolves added Mike Conley to share the ballhandling load.

Towns would now be chased around the arc by faster defenders. He might