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Rumors proceed to attach Minnesota Timberwolves massive man Karl-Anthony Cities to the New York Knicks, however his availability in commerce talks is reportedly “overblown,” per Matt Moore of the Motion Community.
“There’s a widespread perception that Cities is offered in commerce discussions, a declare that sources near the Wolves proceed to say is overblown, if not outright incorrect,” Moore wrote.
That hasn’t stopped the Knicks from having curiosity in Cities, per Moore.
“The Knicks are fascinated by buying and selling for Cities; their curiosity was first reported in preseason,” Moore wrote.
“Notably, Cities is repped by superpower company CAA, which league sources constantly joke successfully runs the Knicks. Knicks President Leon Rose was a longtime agent with CAA, and the hyperlinks to CAA have run by the group for many years.”
In the end, it seems any commerce speak on the matter is emanating from New York, not Minnesota.
“There’s a feeling in league circles that are not concerned with the Timberwolves or Knicks that this example is essentially being promoted from inside New York,” Moore added.
The 28-year-old Cities, a three-time All-Star, has averaged 21.0 factors and 9.3 rebounds in his ninth NBA season (all with the Timberwolves).
Minnesota is off to an excellent begin at 8-3, ok for third within the Western Convention proper now. Anthony Edwards is rising as a possible All-NBA expertise with 26.3 factors, 5.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists in his fourth NBA season.
Edwards’ excellence has taken some strain off Cities, who’s in essence the 1B to Edwards’ 1A or the second choice at this level. That is not a nasty factor by any means as the 2 have efficiently co-led the Wolves to an excellent begin.
In different phrases, it is exhausting to see why Minnesota would need to commerce Cities proper now barring a protracted skid that bumps the staff down the standings. The Timberwolves’ marketing campaign is simply 11 video games previous, however they appear improbable proper now. Protecting Cities aboard helps Minnesota keep the core that delivered the nice starting.
Cities is about to earn massive cash from his four-year, $224 million supermax extension, which kicks in beginning in 2024-25, per Jenna Lemoncelli of the New York Submit.
In concept, that might hypothetically information the Timberwolves’ pondering on a possible deal given how a lot they’re on the hook for proper now. However at this second, the whole lot seems copacetic in Minnesota, so a Cities deal does not appear imminent to New York or wherever else.
