The New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to a blockbuster trade just days before NBA training camps open, sending All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns to New York in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and draft compensation.
Trade Details
The Knicks will receive:
- Karl-Anthony Towns
The Timberwolves will receive:
- Julius Randle
- Donte DiVincenzo
- 2025 first-round pick (top-13 protected, via Detroit)
The Charlotte Hornets are also involved as a third team to absorb additional salary.
Impact for New York
This move gives the Knicks another star player to pair with point guard Jalen Brunson. Towns, a four-time All-Star, averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season while shooting an impressive 41.6% from three-point range. His outside shooting ability as a big man should help space the floor for New York’s offense.
Towns reunites with Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached him in Minnesota from 2016-2019. During that stretch, Towns was highly productive, averaging 23.0 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.
Impact for Minnesota
The Timberwolves acquire two solid rotation players in Randle and DiVincenzo. Randle, an All-Star last season, put up 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game before a shoulder injury ended his season. DiVincenzo had a career year with the Knicks, averaging 15.5 points while shooting 40.1% from three.
Minnesota also receives a future first-round pick from Detroit, though it is heavily protected. The pick is top-13 protected in 2025, top-11 protected in 2026, and top-9 protected in 2027.
Contract Considerations
Towns is in the first year of a 4-year, $220 million supermax extension signed in 2022. Randle has $28.9 million remaining this season plus a $30.9 million player option for 2025-26. DiVincenzo has three years left on his contract.
Timing and Implications
This unexpected blockbuster comes just days before NBA training camps open. It dramatically reshapes both teams and could have major implications in both conferences. The Knicks’ title odds improved from +800 to +700 following the trade.
The deal ends Towns’ nine-year tenure in Minnesota, where he had been the face of the franchise. For New York, it represents a major swing to pair another star with Brunson as they look to build on last season’s playoff run to the conference semifinals.