February 24, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts to his team's win after the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Target Center . Credits: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports Start spreading the word.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks reached a deal Friday night that sent big man Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft pick from the Detroit Pistons.
The deal also includes the Knicks sending salary, Jeffries and draft compensation to the Charlotte Hornets to complete the deal.
Here's the thing. What on earth are the Minnesota Timberwolves thinking?
Minnesota captured America's hearts a few months ago on its way to the Western Conference Finals. It was Anthony Edwards' coming out party, and the 23-year-old proved he could indeed be the face of the NBA.
But this game wouldn't be possible without Towns, who deftly spaced the floor for the explosive Edwards, who will now head to the Eastern Conference to support Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks The team acquired them via trade earlier this offseason.
Towns was surprised by the news and posted his own cryptic tweet minutes before Shams Charania revealed the news about his trade.
he Never made a trade request to the TimberwolvesAccording to reports. The 2015 No. 1 overall pick spent nine seasons in Minnesota, finally finding some success, only to be shipped out.
The return of Randle and DiVincenzo should add depth to the Timberwolves' lineup. But a frontcourt of Randle and Rudy Gobert would feel crowded and not make a lot of sense on paper. The Wolves excel when NBA Three-Point Contest champion Towns stretches the floor. The pairing of Randle and Gobert doesn't sound serious.
Knicks fans would like to see their team find a way to get rid of Randle over the past two offseasons. There is no love lost there. New York's loss of DiVincenzo breaks up the Villanova reunion, but that probably won't be the end of the world, especially when your return brings you a star center.
The Pistons' first-round pick adds an interesting mystery box to this move. it has been called The lucrative side of the trade.
But the Pistons should be better. They've been at the bottom for years and have accumulated some interesting young talent, including Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey and Ron Holland. They also hired J.B. Bickerstaff immediately after he left the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is known for turning around losing teams. No one is saying the Pistons will make the NBA playoffs, but that's not to say they'll be in the conversation for the No. 1 pick.
Why do the Timberwolves want the No. 1 pick? You were too close just now. You are closer than ever.
The five-game series against the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals wasn't fun, but it gave players like Edwards and Towns valuable experience competing against the likes of Luka Doncic.
Doncic then lost to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The Knicks are fully loaded and will be one of the strongest forces in the Eastern Conference and look to overthrow Boston.
They'll do so with Towns, who on paper they could easily pry away.