The Knicks pulled off a huge trade on Friday, bringing Karl-Anthony Towns to Madison Square Garden. The news shocked the NBA community and quickly became the trend of the day. Even though it seemed like a surprise, the trade had been planned for a while. Recently, an NBA insider explained why this trade happened.
Shams Charania from The Athletic said in the morning that the Timberwolves got Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick in exchange for KAT.
Right after the trade, new reports came out explaining why each team made the trade. A report from SNY said that the Knicks wanted to get a better center and bring in a star player.
Ian Begley tweeted, “Knicks, per league sources in touch with the team, feel they had a great opportunity to address their biggest need at C in trading for a 4-time All-Star & 2-time All NBA player in Karl Anthony Towns.”
He also explained, “They see Towns, 28, as a great fit with their other high-end talent and someone who complements the rest of the core well, those league sources say.”
Last year, while playing for the Timberwolves, the 7-foot Towns scored an average of 21.8 points, grabbed 8.3 rebounds, and made 3.0 assists per game.
Experts say the Knicks think this is a great chance to get a strong center. They believe Towns is a talented player who can help their team win more games.
Why Timberwolves prefer Julius Randle over Karl-Anthony Towns
The Timberwolves made a big trade by sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks. They got Donte DiVincenzo to help with shooting and Julius Randle to add depth.
But there are questions about how Randle will fit with Rudy Gobert, as both play close to the basket. This might make it harder for Anthony Edwards to drive to the hoop.
Randle has a contract option worth about $31 million for the 2025-26 season. If he plays well, he might get a better deal. With his skills, a good season could help him get a new contract and help the Timberwolves win the championship.
