Minnesota Timberwolves Trading Karl-Anthony Towns to Knicks

In a shocking development on Friday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves have traded veteran big man Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. According to Shams (The Athletic), the Wolves will receive Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a top-13 protected 2025 first round pick (via Detroit Pistons).

Knicks have acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick via Detroit, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. pic.twitter.com/FafQlY48Y1

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 28, 2024

Minnesota Timberwolves trade Karl-Anthony Towns to New York Knicks

Karl-Anthony Towns was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft and quickly evolved into the best player on the Minnesota Timberwolves, a role he never really fit. Once Anthony Edwards got to Minneapolis, KAT seemed to be settling in nicely as a Robin figure. Then, the Rudy Gobert trade happened, and Karl’s game had to evolve again.

• Karl-Anthony Towns career: 22.9 PTS | 10.8 REB | 3.2 AST | .398 3PT%

So… how’s your Friday night going? For Timberwolves fans, that probably depends on your feelings toward Karl-Anthony Towns. While I have never been the biggest KAT supporter, it is a bit surprising to see president of basketball operations Tim Connelly pull such a massive move, this close to the start of the regular season.

It will be interesting to find out more behind the science of this trade, and what exactly pushed Connelly into making such a move, at this time of the offseason. Clearly, it wasn’t just a surprise to the rest of us. KAT himself seemed to be taken aback by tonight’s developments.

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— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) September 28, 2024

The word from the Towns camp is this: “Stunned.”

Nine years with the Wolves. Impeccable in the community. All-Star and All-NBA. Now a New York Knick.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 28, 2024

Wolves get Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a 1st round pick

Julius Randle arrived a year earlier, but he played with Karl-Anthony Towns at Kentucky. Both were drafted in 2015, Randle just six picks behind KAT. The 29-year-old has three NBA All-Star appearances and he’s 2x All-NBA. Julius has been at his best the last two season, averaging over 24 points and 9 rebounds per game.

Related: NBA Insider Predicts Step Back for Minnesota Timberwolves

Donte DiVincenzo is no slouch either, and should provide the Minnesota Timberwolves with more backcourt minutes. The 27 year old shooting guard posted a career high 15.5 points per game in 2024, to go along with 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game (29.1 MPG).

For Karl-Anthony Towns, he gets to reunite with Tom Thibodeau…