Karl-Anthony Towns’ next contract decision is already echoing back to Minnesota.
The Knicks big man is eligible for an extension, and with only one guaranteed year left on his deal - 2027-28 is a player option - the money conversation is getting loud. Ian Begley of SNY pointed to Rudy Gobert’s recent extension as a guide, writing, "If I’m using the recent Rudy Gobert extension as a baseline, I could see an extension for Towns starting around $45 million," Begley wrote.
"By signing this kind of deal, Towns would obviously lose the opportunity to make more money as a 2027 free agent. But given all the factors at play-the state of the NBA’s economics, teams’ approach to the second apron, and the Knicks’ title aspirations-there are reasons for Towns to play it safe and sign an extension."
That number would come in well below the max Towns could command. He’s eligible for a deal worth up to four years and $272 million, a far bigger figure than the roughly $45 million per year Begley floated.
And that’s where the Timberwolves angle comes in.
Minnesota signed Towns to a four-year supermax extension worth $220.41 million in the 2022 offseason, a contract worth 35 percent of the team’s salary cap. Once that deal was set to begin, the Wolves found themselves in a bind.
It wasn’t about Towns’ production so much as the reality of team-building in the apron era, where massive salaries can box a front office in. The Wolves had also just locked in Anthony Edwards to a major extension that started in 2024-25.
Not long after, Towns was moved on after a nine-year run in Minnesota.
The irony is obvious: if Towns had taken less money then, would the Wolves still have kept him?
That question is now resurfacing because of how Jalen Brunson handled his own extension. Brunson left money on the table by signing early to help the Knicks build a title-level roster, and the move has become a talking point as Towns weighs his own future. Fans in New York are hoping he follows that same path.
It’s worth noting that sacrificing that kind of money only recently became a real trend. Victor Wembanyama has also followed Brunson’s lead, and Towns could be next. If he does choose an extension below the max, the old Minnesota what-if will only get louder.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Get A Late December Chance To Reassert Control Over Denver
The Timberwolves will not have to wait long for a measuring stick against Denver, with the first two meetings of the season set for Dec. 28 and Dec. 31. Minnesota has gone into the offseason with a very different look after adding LaMelo Ball, while the Nuggets have been far quieter in terms of roster turnover, which only sharpens the sense that these games could tell us plenty about where both teams stand in the Western Conference race.
For Minnesota, the larger backdrop is obvious: recent playoff history has made every matchup with Denver feel loaded, and the Wolves have reasons to believe this group can make those games more competitive. The scheduling gives them an early shot to show whether the roster changes actually tilt the matchup in their favor, and whether the late-December swing can become the first step toward reclaiming some control over a familiar rival. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Get An Early Chance To Fix A Costly Problem
The Timberwolves are staring at a demanding opening stretch, with four games against playoff teams from last season helping set the tone right away. It is the kind of early schedule that can expose flaws quickly, but it also gives Minnesota a chance to establish itself against quality opponents before the season settles in. For a team trying to climb in the Western Conference and stay on a championship track, those first few weeks already carry real weight.
What makes the calendar even more interesting is the eight-game homestand that begins Nov. 8 and runs through Nov. 23, the longest in franchise history. After navigating those early roadblocks, the Wolves will get an extended run in front of their own crowd, and that stretch could go a long way toward smoothing over any rough start. If Minnesota can make the most of that window, it would put the team in a much better position to attack the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Fans Just Got A Schedule Packed With Spotlight Moments
The Timberwolves 2026-27 schedule brings a little bit of everything for fans who like their team in the national spotlight. Minnesota opens the season on the road against the Miami Heat, then gets one of the marquee dates on the NBA calendar with its first-ever Christmas Day home game, a visit from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The league also clearly expects plenty of interest, with the Wolves set for 27 nationally televised games and a franchise-record eight-game homestand on the calendar.
There is still another date worth circling as the season picture comes into focus. Minnesota is also set to learn more about Kevin Garnetts jersey retirement celebration on Aug. 14, adding another layer to a year already loaded with attention. Between the NBA Cup group stage and quarterfinals, the Christmas showcase and the national TV slate, this is shaping up as one of the most visible Timberwolves seasons in franchise history, even before the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]