The Knicks have reportedly made a blockbuster trade for Karl-Anthony Towns, adding arguably the best shooting center in the league while making New York’s offense a lethal collective weapon where spacing should be effortless, and scoring weapons are aplenty.
But any big trade comes with a loss, and for some members on the roster, the losses are particularly rough.
Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo are reportedly off to Minnesota, as the Knicks part with the face of their turnaround in Randle, and one of the members of the Villanova core in DiVincenzo, who made an immediate impact in his first season in New York by setting a franchise record in 3-pointers made, and hitting one of the biggest shots in recent Knicks history with his game-winner in game two of the team’s first-round series against the rival 76ers.
For the Knicks that remain, the blockbuster deal brings out the best and the worst of the “business” of the NBA.
“That was definitely tough,” Jalen Brunson said. “But thankful that Julius welcomed me with open arms here. That news, it was crazy. but I’m really thankful for them and their friendships and everything they brought to this team. Really thankful I got to build a relationship with Julius. The memories we made together were really fun.
“Donte, he was a groomsman in my wedding. That should tell you everything you need to know about our relationship. Love him to death.”
After the Knicks made their first blockbuster deal of the offseason, acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Nets for a plethora of first-round picks, the storyline became the Nova Knicks leaning even further into that nickname, with Bridges joining Brunson, DiVincenzo, and Josh Hart as former college teammates with the Wildcats. The group’s closeness, along with their on-court success, made the 2023-24 Knicks an easy team to fall in love with in New York, and adding another Villanova product with star power was only expected to enhance that identity. Instead, months later, that group has been broken up before ever getting to take the floor together.
Meanwhile, the Knicks also part with Randle, who put New York back on the map and in position to make their current ascent with his MVP-caliber season in 2020-21.
“That’s always a tough one,” Hart said. “The NBA is always a business…you form relationships and friendships with guys. I was with Ju here for a year and a half and was with him in LA, and obviously I was with Donte in college. You have good relationships with those guys and hate to see guys like that go, especially with the caliber of player they are and the caliber of people they are. Sometimes the NBA is a tough business.”
Hart believes Knicks fans likely feel a similar bittersweet feeling surrounding one of the more shocking and seismic trades the franchise has made in decades, and hopes Randle and DiVincenzo get a proper reception when they return to The Garden for preseason action, and again in January when the Timberwolves visit in the regular season.
“I think for him, it would probably be pretty difficult and frustrating,” Hart said of Randle. “He came here when they had a losing record and were struggling, and he helped turn the franchise around, and changed the trajectory of it. I think New York as a fanbase is eternally grateful to him for that…he played with extreme passion and competiveness.
“When we see him again in the preseason and when they come here, I hope and know that The Garden is gonna show both of those guys love for the sacrifices they made in a Knicks jersey.”
Of course, beyond the pain of saying goodbye to close friends and teammates, is the reality that the Knicks are getting a potential major difference maker, and final piece, in Towns, a perennial All-Star who could unlock a new level of efficiency on the offensive end.
“KAT is an amazing player, someone who will be really good in terms of spacing, knocking down shots, blocking shots,” Hart said. “So, you love it and hate it.
“We're extremely confident in what we have, officially and unofficially. We're ready to get started.”