A BLOCKBUSTER NBA trade developed overnight, the first of the post-Woj era: according to Shams Charania and other reports, the Knicks are acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota in a three-team deal also involving Charlotte.
While the parameters are still continuing to develop, what was known as of Saturday morning is that the Knicks will send Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, and a future draft pick via Detroit in the deal; that pick, per The Athletic, is top 13 protected in 2025, top 11 in 2026, and top nine in 2027, and if it does not get sent by then, it becomes a second-round pick.
The deal will also see the Knicks send unknown draft compensation and DaQuan Jeffries to Charlotte, who is included in the deal to facilitate salary matchups as the Knicks needed to shed another few million in salary to make Towns’ contract work within their cap space.
According to Jon Krawcynzki, who covers the Timberwolves for The Athletic, “stunned” was the word from Towns’ camp, but KAT now comes ‘home’ to the team he grew up rooting for.
Towns, 28, is from New Jersey and went to St Joseph’s in Metuchen before his one year at Kentucky. He is a four-time All-Star, was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2016, and has averaged 22.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in his career in Minnesota.
And, his addition gives the Knicks a bona fide presence in the middle as Mitchell Robinson is now not expected back until perhaps mid-season as he continues to recover from a foot injury. With KAT in tow, the Knicks now have Towns, the recently-acquired Mikal Bridges, and backup bigs Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims up front, with re-signed OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, and newly-acquired Cameron Payne in the backcourt/wing spots.
The Knicks also added Landry Shamet and Marcus Morris this offseason and will get Robinson back, giving them a deep roster full of veterans.