​Former Timberwolves star big man Karl-Anthony Towns was traded to the Knicks before the 2024-25 season, mostly for financial reasons. Two years later, contract extension talks with New York have “stagnated,” according to multiple reports on Wednesday. Don’t expect a Wolves reunion anytime soon.“Negotiations on a contract extension between the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns have stagnated,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on NBA Today. “A deal going into training camp is considered unlikely.”Reporting for NBA Today — extension negotiations have stagnated between the reigning champion Knicks and All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns: pic.twitter.com/JbeNpz9TJP— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 23, 2026Towns is set to have a cap hit just over $57 million for the 2026-27 season, ahead of a $61 million player option before the 2027-28 season. On his current contract, he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent before the 2028-29 season at 33 years old. New York still has plenty of time to sign him to an extension, but it sounds more likely that he plays the 2026-27 season on his current deal.Jun 18, 2026; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates with the Larry O’Brien championship trophy and the eastern conference finals trophy during a ceremony at New York City Hall after the championship parade. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesTowns was a beloved star in Minnesota. What are the chances the Wolves bring him back to the Land of 10,000 Lakes? Probably pretty slim. The Wolves are clearly set to build around their young core of Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and Jaden McDaniels, who are all signed through the 2028-29 season.If their new-look roster blows up in their face this season, could they look at another big move next offseason? Hypothetically, but that’s a lot of ifs, ands or buts heading into the 2026-27 season.In order to acquire Towns, Minnesota’s most feasible option might be moving on from aging big man Rudy Gobert and adding Ayo Dosunmu to a potential trade package with New York next offseason. We’re not going to pretend to be salary cap experts, but Minnesota and New York currently have two of the five biggest payrolls in the league for the 2026-27 season, so moving a contract of Towns’ size would get complicated to avoid going into the second apron. Especially if Towns wants to sign an extension worth more than $60 million per year.If Towns didn’t play nine seasons in Minnesota, a conversation about the Wolves looking to acquire him probably wouldn’t even happen. Ultimately, he averaged 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game on 50.1% shooting from the field, 36.8% from three and 85.8% from the free-throw line last season. He lived up to the price of his hefty contract en route to an NBA championship.If Gobert’s production begins to dip this season, and Joan Beringer doesn’t develop at the pace Minnesota is expecting, maybe they look for an upgrade in