Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns has reportedly been coveted by Golden State Warriors brass for some time.

In the aftermath of the Warriors' elimination from postseason contention on Tuesday night, The Ringer's Logan Murdock reported Golden State has "long kept an eye on" Towns, and could consider trading for him if he is made available this summer.

The Timberwolves were previously rumored to be considering trading Towns prior to the start of his four-year, $224 million extension next season.

Whether Minnesota decides to listen to offers on Towns depends on the team's "playoff fortunes and projected luxury tax bill," Murdock wrote.

Towns averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game through 62 regular-season starts in 2023-24.

The Warriors could be held back from completing a Towns trade by their desire to come in under the luxury tax threshold, Murdock reported.

Warriors governor Joe Lacob said in February on The TK Show with The Athletic's Tim Kawakami that getting in under the projected $172 million luxury tax apron next season was "plan 1" (h/t NBC Sports' Kurt Helin.)

"Our Plan 1, or 1A, is that we'd like to be out of the tax, and we think that we have a way to do that. That kind of is the plan, not just under the second apron," Lacob said in February. "I'll tell you why that's important because the truth is, we need to be out of the tax two years out of the next four in order to get this repeater thing off our books. We don't want to be a repeater."

The Warriors became the NBA's all-time leader in luxury tax payments last season and are set for another astronomical bill this season. They'll have paid an estimated $700 million in luxury taxes through seven seasons, according to HoopsHype's Yossi Gozlan.

Contract negotiations with Klay Thompson stalled this season in part because of the Warriors' inability to pay the pending UFA without going back over the apron.

The Warriors currently have $175.4 million committed for next season, and Towns comes with a cap hit of more than $49 million, per Spotrac.

In the past, Lacob has "been willing to spend if he feels like a championship is within reach," Murdock noted.

It's not clear if Lacob still feels that way after Golden State fell short during Wednesday's disappointing play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings. Either way, taking on Towns' full cap hit all but guarantees the Warriors would once more exceed the threshold next season.