Pacers trade Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, 2023 first round pick and 2025 first round pick to the Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns
This is the most fun trade of the bunch. It would require a reality check on the part of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and a reality vacation on the part of the Pacers, who would need to think they’d be in title contention to take so bold a swing.
The Timberwolves stink. They’ve stunk for years, and they’re not going to stop stinking in the KAT era, so better to cash out now and accept a proper rebuild. By giving Anthony Edwards a half-dozen more shots per game than the immensely-more-talented Towns, they seem en route to accepting reality, themselves, and Towns should be irate about playing second banana to Edwards, and third on most nights to D’Angelo Russell.
Timberwolves fans could talk themselves into Sabonis being 90% as good as Towns, and they could easily talking themselves into the two Pacers picks ending up in the lottery.
Meanwhile, in the land of corn and wheat, the slow-footed Towns would likely benefit from playing alongside Myles Turner, and provide the Pacers a level of scoring aptitude they haven’t had this millennium. I’m not saying this would make them anywhere near a title, but it could give the fans something to cheer about.
There are three trades that upgrade the Pacers’ talent, but I still maintain the best way for them to one day be a real contender is a complete rebuild, to whoever wants Sabonis, Turner, Brodgon and LeVert (Warren’s value is probably negative right now) for as many cumulative picks as possible.