The New York Knicks needed a center — and they just traded for one of the best offensive centers in the game.
The Knicks reportedly have agreed to a trade for Karl-Anthony Towns, sending Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves, a blockbuster pre-training camp deal broken by Shams Charania and John Krawczynski of The Athletic. This ultimately is a three-team trade involving Charlotte to make the money work, and Minnesota also will get a top-13-protected 2025 first-round pick (via the Pistons).
Knicks are sending salary -- including DaQuan Jeffries -- and draft compensation to Charlotte in three-team Karl-Anthony Towns/Julius Randle deal, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. https://t.co/dP4x8dTvr9
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 28, 2024
The Towns camp is reportedly blindsided and stunned by the news after nine seasons in Minnesota.
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— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) September 28, 2024
It also breaks up part of the Villanova Knicks before they even play a game together with Mikal Bridges.
Regardless, this is a massive win for the Knicks, who were already considered contenders and now add one of the best centers in the game. While coach Tom Thibodeau will be frustrated with Towns’ defense (and has been in the past), he can get buckets around the rim and, more importantly, stretch the floor from 3. Having a five-out lineup will create driving lanes for Jalen Brunson and Bridges. Towns is a big upgrade, he is an offensive force at the five and one of the best offensive centers in the game (maybe only behind Nikola Jokic in today’s NBA). He can start this season at the five and when Mitchell Robinson returns from injury around Christmas it will give New York as good a center rotation as there is in the league.
The Knicks, already title contenders, got better on paper. They are a legit threat to the Celtics on top of the East (even if they lost a little guard depth).
The big questions are: Is Towns able to be the defensive anchor in a Tom Thibodeau system? Is he mentally ready for a grinding, physical of a Thibodeau team? KAT’s reputation is softer than that, and he will be asked to play a role that is more like what Rudy Gobert did in Minnesota. That said, Towns played for Thibs in Minnesota previously and the coach has had nothing but kind words for the center in recent years.
Minnesota makes this trade for two reasons. First, Randle as the four next to Gobert as the five keeps the Timberwolves serious contenders this season (although Naz Reid at the four and Randle off the bench is a better fit). Second, a team considered a little thin on the bench picks up some quality guard depth with DiVincenzo. Minnesota remains a threat to win it all.
However, this trade was really about the money. Minnesota will be unreasonably expensive in future years and difficult to afford in this form — regardless of who the owner is — and this will save money if they do not re-sign Randle. Minnesota was about to become the most expensive team in the league, and because of the new CBA’s second tax apron, staying a contender would be an issue. It could make Randle a free agent this summer, or he could opt-in for $30.9 million and test the 2026 market.
NBA training camps open next week, but blockbusters are already stealing the headlines — the NBA is back.
