Kendrick Perkins mocks Lakers for hiring new athletic trainer after Knicks trade for Karl-Anthony Towns
ESPN basketball analyst and former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins took a shot at the Los Angeles Lakers for hiring an athletic trainer while the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly executed a high-profile trade.
The trade sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Big Apple and all-star forward Julius Randle, along with Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick, to Minnesota.
Perkins seemed dissatisfied with the Lakers' inaction to improve their roster and appeared to encourage acquisitions via trades to strengthen their depth.
In a post on his X account (formerly Twitter), Perkins said,
"The NBA is making moves, while the Lakers are hiring trainers."
Perkins has come under criticism of late, particularly in the wake of the recent firing of ESPN's beloved basketball analyst Zach Lowe. Known more for his hot takes than in-depth basketball analysis, Perkins appears to be stirring controversy once again with this post on social media.
Why did the Timberwolves trade Karl-Anthony Towns?
Karl-Anthony Towns spent the first nine years of his career in Minnesota and is possibly the franchise's second-greatest player ever after Kevin Garnett. Even though he has not quite lived up to the hype, his career averages of 23 points, 11 rebounds, and a three-point shooting percentage of 40% show him to be a consistent All-Star-level contributor.
The surprising timing of the trade caught many fans off guard, occurring just days before the start of training camp. Karl-Anthony Towns was spotted interacting and hugging his former teammate Anthony Edwards recently.
Let's break down the reasons behind the Timberwolves trading Karl-Anthony Towns.
#1 Luxury tax avoidance
Timberwolves fans have often been dissatisfied with owner Glen Taylor's reluctance to spend money. Typically conservative, Taylor and the Timberwolves front office made a strategic decision to trade Towns, aiming to stay below the second apron and reduce their luxury tax bill.
However, Towns' four-year, $224 million contract extension was set to kick in, making it challenging for the Timberwolves to retain all three of their key players – Towns, Anthony Edwards, and Rudy Gobert – once Edwards becomes extension-eligible.
#2 Karl-Anthony Towns fit with Rudy Gobert
Despite upsetting the defending champions Denver Nuggets in the playoffs last year, questions have persisted about the fit between the team's two premier big men: defensive star Rudy Gobert and the offensively-minded Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns' defense has often been criticized in big moments, and spacing was an issue for the Timberwolves since Gobert's acquisition.
It will be interesting to see how Julius Randle, known for his spacing issues and only one exceptional three-point shooting season, meshes with the existing core of Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert.
#3 Anthony Edwards' emergence as the team's leader
The Timberwolves have been building around their young core, with Anthony Edwards emerging as one of the league's most captivating and marketable stars and the team's true leader. Defensive superstars Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid are also coming into their own. By trading Towns, Minnesota can create a more balanced team structure and extend its window of contention.