NBA Rumors: Karl-Anthony Towns Traded to Knicks; T-Wolves Get Julius Randle

Karl-Anthony Towns is moving on after playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first nine seasons of his career.

The three-time All-Star is being traded by the T-Wolves to the New York Knicks in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, and a first-round draft pick via the Detroit Pistons, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

As part of a three-team agreement, Charania said, the Charlotte Hornets are also included in the trade. In return, the Knicks are giving the Hornets draft picks and salaries, including that of DaQuan Jeffries.

The Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, and other teams spoke with the Knicks regarding a trade for Randle, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.

Towns “did not request this trade” and “never has requested a move in nine years” in Minnesota, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Towns is “still processing” as well.

According to league insiders, the Knicks “see Towns, 28, as a great fit with their other high-end talent and someone who complements the rest of the core well.” According to people close to the team, they believe Towns offers them a great chance for long-term success as well,” said Begley.

Blockbuster Trade Shakes Up Knicks and Timberwolves

since they have a lot of hope for 2024–25 after one of their best seasons ever.

Building out the depth was going to be difficult given the sum of money Minnesota had put into its big three of Towns, Anthony Edwards, and Rudy Gobert.

Trading Towns was always going to be the simplest route for the Timberwolves to rebuild their roster, but Tim Connelly, president of basketball operations, appeared to be headed in a different direction.

Connelly traded for Rob Dillingham, the eighth overall pick, from the San Antonio Spurs at the draft, which was a wise decision.

Given the limitations of the second apron they were playing under, the Timberwolves were able to increase salary thanks to their decision to effectively purchase a draft pick.

Karl-Anthony Towns to Knicks: What It Means for New York:

The Minnesota Timberwolves are sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft selection in a franchise-altering move for both teams, a source with knowledge of the transaction said Friday night.

Despite having a few bad seasons before leading the team to the Western Conference finals last spring, Towns, a four-time All-Star who is entering his tenth season and one of the finest big men in the NBA for outside shooting, has never shown any dissatisfaction with the team that selected him first overall in 2015.

Engaged in the Twin Cities community, prepared to cede the leading role to rising star Anthony Edwards, and unfazed by the transition to a stretch power forward role after center Rudy Gobert was acquired two years prior, Towns did not seem to anticipate this move three days prior to the start of training camp.

Talking about a youth center he’s helping build in the Dominican Republic, the birthplace of his late mother Jackie, Towns was ecstatic about the upcoming season and Minnesota’s prospects following their 2023–24 breakthrough, which ended in a five-game conference finals loss to Dallas. Towns spoke with the AP earlier this week.

In Randle, the three-time All-Star power forward, the Wolves receive a first-round pick to make up for some of the draft capital they lost to Utah in exchange for Gobert, as well as a sharpshooter in DiVincenzo, who just finished his best season.

Towns can return to his starting center position with the Knicks and help address a critical need. After ankle surgery, Mitchell Robinson will be sidelined for at least two months. This summer, Isaiah Hartenstein signed a contract with Oklahoma City. Among a strong group of players captained by All-Star Jalen Brunson, that was the only weak spot.