There is no greater illustration of, "you get what you ask for" than the two Woj bombs we've received in the past 24-hours.
The Suns are in hopes of trading a first-round pick and a few players for... who's this? Luke *checks notes* Kennard? Ok... Meanwhile the Timberwolves are in pursuit of the third member of the Booker-Towns-Russell Slam Magazine trifecta.
You get what you ask for.
A little over a month ago, a report surfaced that Karl-Anthony Towns was unhappy in Minnesota. He dismissed it, just like Eric Bledsoe dismissed his "I don't wanna be here" Tweet. When these things get leaked, they get leaked for a reason. Karl-Anthony Towns was asking for help. Now, he's on the verge of getting it.
The latest is that the Timberwolves and Warriors are still a ways away from an agreement, but they still have two days to bridge the gap before the trade deadline, and the Timberwolves seem to be working tirelessly to make something happen. That is, after all, what Karl-Anthony Towns demanded of them.
The Suns, on the other hand, seem destined to make the safe, easy decision when they land in Detroit for Wednesday's game. Shake hands, exchange a first-round pick and some players for 15 points per game, and some knee tendonitis. That is, after all, what Devin Booker demanded of them.
Towns asked, Booker didn't.
We love Booker's humility, but maybe we shouldn't. Humility didn't get LeBron James to Miami, or over to the Lakers. Humility didn't get Kawhi to the Rapters, and then to the Clippers. Humility didn't get Anthony Davis out of New Orleans. Humility doesn't build championship-caliber teams.
This is one of the many ways LeBron James changed the NBA. If you want to be a superstar, part of your responsibility is to hold your organization to the fire. Players, not general managers, are now the power brokers of the league. That's why James always took one year deals in Cleveland. That's why Kawhi knew he had to get out of Papovich's shadow. That's why Karl-Anthony Towns, or someone in his camp, leaked that he was unhappy.
Humility is great when your goal is to be liked. Wielding leverage is necessary when you're trying to win championships in this NBA. Last week Devin Booker conceded that the league he grew up loving has has changed. He admitted that it's now more about entertainment, drama and politics than it ever has been.
He's right. What he's missing is that until he embraces that, and uses his political influence to demand more from his organization, he'll continue to not only miss out on All-Star star teammates, not just All-Star games.