The New York Knicks made another massive trade that they hope will help them improve their chances of becoming the top team in the Eastern Conference. According to multiple reports, the Knicks agreed to a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves that will see them acquire All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns.
In order to get Towns, the Knicks are reportedly sending All-Star forward Julius Randle, sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick via Detroit Pistons to Minnesota. The trade is also expected to include the Charlotte Hornets in some capacity.
The trade comes as a big surprise, considering that Towns had a great campaign with the Wolves, playing a key part in the franchise’s run to the Western Conference Finals. He averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the regular season, making his fourth career All-Star game and seemingly being content with taking the backseat in favor of Anthony Edwards.
However, the Wolves reportedly felt that Towns’ four-year, $220 million contract would limit them in putting together a formidable team around Edwards. They believe that adding Randle and DiVincenzo will make them a more competitive team in the short run while allowing them more flexibility to extend their window as a contender in the future.
Randle is entering the final year of his contract, and the Wolves can wait to see whether he can be healthy again after being limited to 46 games last season before entertaining the idea of signing him to a new deal. DiVincenzo is coming from a career year in which he averaged 15.5 points while shooting 40.1% from beyond the arc.
The Knicks, on the other hand, have been in the market for a center, and there was arguably no better player available than Towns. The need became especially pressing after it became clear that Mitchell Robinson would be out for a lot longer than expected.
This is the most recent big move by the Knicks, who are looking to build on last season’s run that saw them reach the second round of the playoffs. They previously acquired OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors mid-season and later signed him to a max extension before later giving up five first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikail Bridges.
