Knicks acquire Karl-Anthony Towns, send Julius Randle to Timberwolves

We’ve got ourselves a Cat-for-Cat trade and it’s one that will change the entire landscape of the NBA.

As reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski on Friday night, the New York Knicks have agreed to a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves that will send Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks and Julius Randle to the Timberwolves. These two former Kentucky Wildcats — who have a combined seven All-Star appearances — are in the prime stages of their basketball careers and will make immediate impacts at their new spots as likely starters.

Additionally, the Timberwolves will acquire guard Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick from the Knicks. The Charlotte Hornets are also reportedly included in the deal. Of note, Randle has a player option on his contract for the 2025-26 season worth $31 million while Towns is under contract through 2027-28 with a $61 million player option in the final season.

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

To say the timing of this trade was unexpected would be an understatement. A few minutes before Charania began to report the trade, Towns sent out a cryptic social media post that alluded to the news that was about to break.

Towns, 28, and the Timberwolves are coming off a run to the Western Conference Finals that saw the seven-footer make his fourth All-Star Game while averaging 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and three assists per outing across 62 games played. The No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, he’s spent all nine years of his career in Minnesota. Towns will join a Knicks team that already had high expectations and will now be among the favorites to make the NBA Finals in 2024-25.

As for Randle, the 29-year-old is coming off his third All-Star campaign in four seasons with the Knicks, where he’s been since the 2019-20 season. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and five assists per game for New York in 2023-24, but appeared in only 46 games, the fewest since his rookie season when he played just one game before suffering a season-ending injury.

Randle’s fit in Minnesota isn’t as clear to see compared to Towns and the Knicks. He’ll join a frontcourt that already includes Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid — two talented big men who meshed well with Towns, but the group overall was exposed at times in the playoffs. It’ll be interesting to see if the Timberwolves look to flip Randle, let him join the mix, or move one of Gobert or Reid.

But if he does stick in Minnesota, Randle will link up with another former Wildcat in rookie guard Rob Dillingham. Meanwhile, Towns will join forces on the Knicks with Jacob Toppin. He’ll also once again be coached by Tom Thibodeau on the Knicks, who coached Towns for three seasons in Minnesota (2016-19).