Before news of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade broke on social media on Friday night, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly visited Towns at his Minnesota home to let him know that he was being traded to the Knicks, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
As Krawczynski details, the fact that the Wolves moved off one of their highest-paid players didn’t come as a total surprise, given the team’s high payroll in 2024/25 and beyond, but the timing of the move was “an absolute thunderbolt that no one saw coming” after the team spent the offseason lauding its roster continuity and chemistry.
According to Krawczynski, the Wolves had an increasingly difficult time envisioning a scenario in which they were able to keep their existing roster intact beyond the 2024/25 season. Sources tell The Athletic that if Towns had stayed in Minnesota long-term, it likely would’ve meant parting with fan favorite Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Getting two rotation players – Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo – in exchange for one will create more flexibility going forward for the Wolves, especially since Randle has the opportunity to reach free agency in 2025. While it doesn’t sound like there are any immediate plans to flip the newcomers – Krawczynski says Randle has “plenty of advocates” in Minnesota and the team has long had interest in DiVincenzo – their contracts should make them easier to move on the trade market, if necessary, than Towns was with four years and $220MM left on his deal, Krawczynski observes.
Here’s more on the Towns trade, which is still in the process of being finalized:
- The Knicks repeatedly called the Timberwolves over the years to express their interest in Towns, but those discussions never really evolved into full-fledged negotiations until now, says Fred Katz of The Athletic.
- While the “Villanova Knicks” won’t get to take the court this season – with DiVincenzo sent to Minnesota before Mikal Bridges has played his first game as a Knick – the club is excited about the way that Towns will complement Bridges, Jalen Brunson, and OG Anunoby, league sources tell The Athletic. Katz adds that Towns’ plus-minus numbers helped convince the Knicks to roll the dice on him, as the Wolves have consistently been better with him on the court throughout his career.
- There’s not expected to be any lingering tension between Towns and former Wolves head coach Tom Thibodeau. Towns has publicly spoken about harboring no ill feelings toward Thibodeau after their up-and-down time together in Minnesota from 2016-19, and a source close to the Knicks’ head coach says he feels the same way, per Katz. “If a guy can play,” that source said, “Thibs wants him.”
- Although Towns and Randle have seven All-Star nods between them, both stars come with their share of question marks related to their injury histories, contract situations, and defense. Michael Pina of The Ringer considers the risk that both sides are taking on by making this move and questions the timing of the agreement.
- In his analysis of the deal, John Hollinger of The Athletic notes that the Knicks addressed their center problem by acquiring Towns, but run the risk of creating “enough other issues that the cure may be worse than the disease.” Specifically, the deal will hurt the team’s wing depth and create major long-term cap challenges, Hollinger writes.
- James L. Edwards III of The Athletic also isn’t 100% sure that the trade will make the Knicks a better team. Edwards acknowledges that Towns is the best player in the deal, but points out that he won’t address the team’s two biggest short-term needs: frontcourt defense and secondary play-making.
- ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Chris Herring, and Bobby Marks take a look at what the move means for both the Knicks and the Timberwolves and explore the biggest remaining question marks related to the deal.
As a Knicks fan KAT gives the Knicks flexibility, play outside, shoot the 3, unclog the middle for Brunson and Hart…OR Play the post, can move him to the 4 when Mitchell comes back, in the playoffs they can play together.. personality wise he fits in easily, know THIBS, his former coach. KNICKS didn’t want to resign Randle, needed a center… BIG LOSS IS DIVINCENZO , not Randle… Knicks short on wing players now… Offense will flow better with KAT… DUECE will have to step up as a play maker… Tyler Kolek will have to be developed off the bench more quickly now as a play maker, facilitator…. contrary to Thibs sitting rookies… high payroll requires player development… KNICKS CAN CHALLENGE THE CELTICS IF HEALTHY…( need Mitchell back healthy)…
Big IF he has played what one injury free year in the last five?
KAT can’t play in the physical east. KAT is soft. Gruesome trade for The knickerbockers destroyer of team defense, financial flexibility, team chemistry and spirit. Coming off knee surgery KAT looking Soft as Currys 40 on 30 plus shots.
Thibs won’t allow that. Knick fans won’t allow it either.
Mitch injury pushed this. I think the Knicks got a deal. The contract was an issue. But Knicks can handle that. In Thibs I trust. He wanted this. Means he can help KAT on D and rebounds. Playing close to home has to be motivating. So he should be receptive to Thibs.
I expect a big year from Randle. KAT gives Knicks that. Then they will go to Finals.
did “thibs” really provide that much to KAT while he was coaching the wolves with his rebounding and d?
You should get that info. Jimmy was against a top Rook not having a killer instinct. It was more the team. Plus he was the GM. And that was too much mío. Thibs is all old school coach. Larry Brown type. Those sometimes get the wrong impression. Thibs can help KAT. Only reason I believe they made trade. KAT has to be in
KAT was green last time
This is a good trade for both teams. Towns will pull a big man out of the paint because you can’t guard him with anything but taller wings, otherwise he just shoots over people. That in turn opens the lane for Brunson so he can drive more effectively and Towns makes a great release valve if the drive stalls. Last season’s playoff run should be an indication that Brunson needs some help on offense and Towns can score.
Defensively he holds his own against other perimeter bigs like Porzingis and can guard wings that they just shoot and pass. If they need a rim protector they can shift him down to PF.
Conley is good PG but he’s lost a few steps and the Wolves needed another playmaker and Randle has averaged 5 assists per game since coming to New York. He’s not much help on defense but that’s what they’re paying Gobert and McDaniels to do. He can post up and give them a change of pace on offense and while he doesn’t shoot well if the matchup calls for it then they can play a three guard lineup by swinging Edwards to SF and bringing in DiVencenzo off the bench to play SG. Long term it also gives Minnesota more flexibility financially as Randle’s contract is both cheaper and shorter. He isn’t there yet but Edwards has a chance to be the best or one of the best players in the NBA and the Wolves need to do everything they can to keep a competitive roster around him for years to come.
I agree cause Randle has a contract yr. So he’s going to prove it to everyone. He will play well with Rudy. Donte gives them the shooting. Antman has more freedom. Minny is still a top team. With an extra pick.
Wolves are smart to get out from under that awful contract they gave to Towns.
Is it actually possible (if some cash is involved) a Andrew Wiggins-Julius Randle deal could happen?
Ok nevermind, the always-great Luke Adams helped figure this out
“(just focusing on the math…)
It would depend in part on how much of his trade bonus Randle gets. If he doesn’t waive any of it, his cap hit will increase by $4MM+ and make it much trickier.
He also has some unlikely incentives that count toward the apron but not the cap. The Warriors would have to consider them for hard cap purposes, which is another complication.
As with this deal, it would probably require a third team to take on some salary from the Warriors.”
Being that GSW has been “in on” every star this offseason from Lauri to PG, its very fair to review this trade with that knowledge. GSW can pounce on anyone at any time.
Kevin Durant coming to the best team in the NBA has absolutely fried your neural pathways. You are unable to process any information without immediately trying to apply it to some pipe dream you cooked up.
-Minny wanting Andrew Wiggins
-Randle waiving any amount of money he’s owed (especially on a team he hasn’t played 1 game for)
-Warriors being able to “pounce on anyone at anytime”
All ridiculous thoughts that your poor brain can’t help but create.
Being you cannot post without hurling petty, useless insults at me, this will be the last time I reply to you before muting this troll account forever. Your points, as usual, are completely without merit and you are obviously someone who’s brain is even more fried than you think mine is, from Steph ending your fave teams season over and over and over again. Your mind is common and basic, you dont know ball, and ultimately you cant reply without being a jerk because you know I am right.
-Randle doesnt space the floor like the Wolves need him to. Wiggins is a better fit there and you know it.
-Multi team deals happen over and over and you act like everything in a post has to be perfect and clean even though this is a rumors site.
-So the Warriors WERENT in on PG or Lauri? Their front office has stated they are going to ask about every superstar to pair next to Curry and Dray. This is a fact your tiny brain cant handle.
-You need to calm down. Its a rumors site. You are much too angry to post on here.
Hope you find peace and get better. Until then, have fun in the shadow realm with your pathetic debatelording mindset and negative knowledge about NBA. I will never ever reply to your garbage again. You should be banned, honestly.
:(
I’d do that trade right now. He’s Canadian. He wants this
@pogo right? Its kind of a perfect fit for both sides.
Well if Randle trade does not work out the 1st year , you can revisit that trade, depending how Wiggins is playing…. Move Naz Reid to the 4, Wiggins at 3, Conley will eventually come off the bench… Divincenzo may be combo starter with Anthony Edwards…. WOLVES WOULD HAVE TO GET A FIRST ROUND PICK TO DO THIS TRADE….
as the season wears on.. wonder if brunson will begin to regret giving his “home town discount” to KAT ?
It will just be a reflection …. off the ring.
IMO, it’s a bad deal for the NYK. It eviserates the team identity and culture that last year’s group established, and which were being built upon. NYK are now a different team, that will have to find its own identity. Most painful, is that they did this destruction to acquire KAT, one of the worst contracts in the league, and a chronic underachiever.
On the positive side, they did upgrade their primary offensive options (which, in my mind, was always a prerequisite to a Randle deal), as a Brunson-Towns 1-2, is an upgrade from a Brunson-Randle 1-2. But what about defense and the boards? What about the team’s culture? KAT’s selective effort, and lack of grit, has to rub off on the rest of the team.
Great deal for MIN. They had to get rid of KAT and his toxic deal in any event, this year or next. Doing it now and getting a true PF (All Star), who’s making about half of what KAT is and not signed long term, makes it a win. Getting a guy like DiV too, makes it a grand slam for them.
Problem for Minnesota is that the pieces don’t fit.
Can’t play Rudy and Randle together. Not only bad for Randle, but also for Ant.
After an unsuccessful year 1, wolves figured out how to use Rudy, KAT, and Ant together. KAT always played as a stretch 4 alongside Rudy, keeping the paint more open for Ant, and balancing the floor.
Randle belongs in the paint.
Not really. That’s the mis-characterization of Randle’s game that had him deemed a C when the Knicks signed him, probably the only reason he was available as a FA. Randle can be an inherently ill fitting piece, on and off the court, but less so on the court when his game is properly understood. Randle is a power player who needs to initiate his offense on the perimeter and hopefully finish in the paint, or collapse the defense to create for others. That offensive game fits best with a traditional C with low volume offensive games. I could get into a skill set analysis of why that’s all so, but there is no need. It should suffice to point out that ALL of Randle’s best seasons (All NBA seasons), which were also his team’s best seasons, came playing next to those type of C’s. Based on your reasoning, the opposite should be true.
This is what I’d like to see …..
Center (7’) KAT —
PF (6’ 8”) Achiuwa —
PG (6’ 2”) Brunson ….
SG ( 6’ 6”) 2WayBridges ……
SF (6’ 7”) OG …….
The majority of the court time I think will be Hart on and PA off. 3 with a heavy focus on D and 2 with a heavy focus on offense is going to be a nice balance. While KAT can board, Hart is going to be the rebounding guy for the offensive boards. Those 5, all in their prime years is going to be entertaining.
Then they should trade Mitchell Robinson for a PF to start
With Reid Minny still has big depth. Rudy will help Randle. Takes all the pounding. I expect a big yr from Julius. Donte is a great fit as a shooter. Minny got out of the contract. Is still a contender. And has an extra pick now. Works for both teams. At this time. It’s best to move on with AntMan. It’s a smart move imo.
Not sure why people keep brining up Wolves wanting Wiggins. He could only muster 1 season where it looked like he was trying and he was playing with 2 of the best shooters in today’s game. He doesn’t care and his body language has been speaking loudly for years.
Yeah because his dad was dying in front of him the last 3 years, and then his assistant coach died while sitting next to him. His makeup isnt strong, but those events would be impossible to overcome even if it was.
Its in the past now, and yeah, as of now Wiggins has played very well in the NBA, up to the standard we thought he would, for 1.5 years on the Warriors. The last 2 years have been a wash, but it makes sense. Regardless, Wiggins spaces the floor better than Randle does on that Wolves team and Randle fits what GSW’s front office is looking for in an elite-tier player who fits next to Curry and Dray.
In any event, there’s zero chance Wiggins is traded for Randle until there’s evidence he’s back/close to being the guy he was a few years ago. Until that happens, the Wolves would laugh and hang up the phone. In theory he plays better with the family situation behind him, but it’s not a guarantee.
Wolves are looking to do a Taylor to Dolan…
Excellent…
Now for the 3 months of hype before the nex Knicks trade to make them contenders…
Not a good trade totally for the Knicks as KAT will not be that guy to take you to a championship, and you move Dante who is a great team guy…I guess the positive here is Randle is gone.
As far as Wolves, they could or should have gotten more back for Towns, and while Randle may look a better fit than KAT, he always manages to disappoint.
Dante is a great addition for them, if he really buys in. First round pick also so perhaps Wolves only just win this one. Looks negative for both teams.