Mock trade has Nets trading Mikal Bridges for Karl-Anthony Towns
The Brooklyn Nets have an important offseason ahead of them as they look to address their needs throughout each stage of the summer. The matter that remains paramount is how Brooklyn wants to proceed into their future given the circumstances surrounding the team at this time.
The Nets finished the 2022-23 season as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs before getting swept by the Philadelphia 76ers. Leading up to that, Brooklyn traded Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving at the February trade deadline after Irving wanted out for contractual reasons and Durant wanted out because of the uncertainty of the future of the organization.
Most likely, for Brooklyn to put itself back into the contender conversation, they will need to make a big splash with the trade or hitting on draft picks. Per Vincent Frank of Sportsnaut.com, the Nets could make that splash by trading a highly-coveted player within the organization for Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns:
The Mock Trade:
Brooklyn Nets receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaden McDaniels, and two 2nd-round picks
Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Mikal Bridges and Joe Harris
Should the Nets do this trade?
While this trade would involve trading Bridges, if the deal netted Towns, that would be considered a win. In this instance, Brooklyn would run into the same issue that Minnesota experienced in trying to play a lineup with two centers.
Nic Claxton has been valuable for the Nets, but with both guys being true centers, it’s better to trade one for the other. With that being said, Towns would be a major upgrade for a Brooklyn team lacking size and rebounding outside of Claxton.
Getting Jaden McDaniels and two second-round picks would sweeten the pot for Brooklyn as they would get a quality rotation player and have extra picks to take fliers on players with potential or possibly package for a better player. Ultimately, if this deal were to be on the table, the Nets should strongly consider it at the least.
Verdict: Yes, the Nets should do this trade.
What Sportsnaut thinks of the trade
“With Cam Thomas doing his thing at the two and Cameron Johnson being seen as a potential wing of the future, it almost makes too much sense for the Nets to flip Mikal Bridges for a big man. It would create a more well-rounded roster.
Towns teaming up with stud young big man Nic Claxton in the Nets’ frontcourt would be all sorts of sexy. KAT is a score-first option who struggles a tad on defense. Claxton is one of the best low-post defenders in the game.
As for Minnesota, it is able to break up the Towns and Rudy Gobert pairing. That did not work too well a season ago.
Instead, the team gets that missing component out on the wing to team up with stud guard Anthony Edwards and Gobert moving forward. Like the Nets, this would create a much more balanced roster.”
