The New York Knicks are set to secure their latest star player. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves have reached an agreement for the trade of Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks will send a package led by Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota in exchange for Towns.
Additionally, the Knicks will provide the Timberwolves with a first-round pick from Detroit. Reports indicate that New York will also send DaQuan Jefferies and draft compensation to the Charlotte Hornets to create the necessary salary cap space for Towns’s arrival.
This trade carries significant implications for both teams, each of which has championship aspirations for the upcoming season. Towns, a four-time All-Star, has spent all nine seasons of his NBA career with the Timberwolves. Last season, he averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, shooting 41.6% from three-point range. His addition will provide the defensively oriented Knicks with an elite scorer and shooter.
Joining Jalen Brunson and fellow offseason acquisition Mikal Bridges in New York, Towns is expected to help the Knicks build on their recent success. The Knicks have reached the Eastern Conference semifinals in each of the last two seasons but have yet to advance to the conference finals.
On the other side, the Timberwolves are set to enhance their roster depth following a strong season where they finished third in the Western Conference. They advanced to the conference finals for the first time in two decades after defeating the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
Randle, an All-Star last season, is anticipated to fill the void left by Towns alongside Rudy Gobert in Minnesota’s frontcourt. Despite an injury-shortened season where he played only 46 games, Randle averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and five assists when on the court.
DiVincenzo, who is coming off a career year with the Knicks, averaged 15.5 points per game and shot 40.1% from three-point range, both career highs. He is expected to play a similar role in Minnesota as he did in New York.
