Start spreading the news, Towns now a New York Knick
In a major offseason NBA blockbuster deal, the New York Knicks acquired All-Star forward Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves, multiple media outlets reported on Friday night.
The Timberwolves reportedly will receive All-Star forward Julius Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick. According to ESPN, the draft pick will be a 2025 first-rounder, top-13 protected, that previously belonged to the Detroit Pistons.
The trade will require the involvement of a third team to balance the exchange of salaries, per ESPN, with the Charlotte Hornets set to fill that role.
Towns, 28, is heading into the first year of a four-year, $220-million contract extension. Randle, 29, is due to make $28.9 million in the 2024-25 season, and he has a $30.9-million player option for the following season. DiVincenzo, 27, has three years remaining on his contract for a total of almost $36 million.
The swap continues an offseason that saw the Knicks acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets. New York is looking to improve on a season in which it went 50-32 and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Minnesota went 56-26 last season, one game off the best record in the Western Conference, then advanced to the conference finals.
Towns was an All-Star for the fourth time last season, when he averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds. In his nine-season career, all with the Timberwolves, he has career averages of 22.9 points and 10.8 boards.
Randle was limited to 46 games last season due to a right shoulder injury. He last played in January, then had the shoulder surgically repaired in April.
The three-time All-Star put up 24 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 2023-24. He has averaged 19.1 points, 9.4 boards and 3.7 assists in his career with the Los Angeles Lakers (2014-15 to 2017-18), New Orleans Pelicans (2018-19) and Knicks (2019-20 to 2023-24).
