Karl-Anthony Towns is set to join the New York Knicks from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster trade ahead of the new NBA season, according to ESPN.
The deal will see Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo head to Minnesota with Towns, a four-time NBA All-Star, departing the team he joined nearly a decade ago when he was drafted No.1 overall in 2015.
The Timberwolves will also acquire a first-round pick from the Knicks via the Detroit Pistons, while the Charlotte Hornets will receive compensation for their part in helping facilitate the deal.
Towns, widely regarded as one of the finest centers in the game, stirred up speculation after posting ‘…’ on his X account shortly before The Athletic first reported talks of the deal.
…
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) September 28, 2024
The move will see the 28-year-old reunite with Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, whom he played under in Minnesota from 2016 to 2019, and will likely slot immediately into New York’s starting lineup after it was revealed Mitchell Robinson will miss the start of the season following ankle surgery.
The deal caps off a busy offseason for the Knicks, whose acquisition of Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets marked the first trade between the two New York franchises in 40 years.
The Knicks also extended Thibodeau’s contract, as well as star guard Jalen Brunson.
Additionally, the team secured OG Anunoby to a five-year, $212.5 million contract.
The Knicks are nearing a trade to send package around Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. https://t.co/X74Nm280Og
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 28, 2024
Towns, who grew up in New Jersey, has career averages of 22.9 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 39.8% from 3-point range.
He averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds last season while shooting 50% from the field and 41.6% from 3-point range.
Randle, a three-time All-Star forward who joined New York in 2019, has been sidelined since January following a shoulder injury that subsequently required surgery.
Sources told ESPN that talks between the Knicks and the 29-year-old over a contract extension had failed to make progress during the offseason, effectively opening the door for his departure.
DiVincenzo signed a four-year free agent deal with the Knicks last summer and went on to make 283 three-pointers, a career high.
Last term saw the Timberwolves advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years where they were eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks.
The Knicks, meanwhile, fell to the Indiana Pacers in the Conference semi-finals.
