Knicks Trade Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo to Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns

The New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves completed a blockbuster trade Friday night involving All-Stars Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as perimeter threat Donte DiVincenzo, according to multiple sources.

The New York Knicks were able to trade Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo after the Charlotte Hornets became the third team.

The Knicks traded Randle and DiVincenzo to Minnesota for the Cities, and the Timberwolves will also receive a protected 2025 first-round pick from New York for the Detroit Pistons.

According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks, the Charlotte Hornets are the third team in the trade, and are expected to receive draft compensation to help make the deal work financially.

With Minnesota well into the second round and New York close to first, a third team was needed to make the trade happen. Charlotte used a salary cap exception to take money from the Knicks to make the deal official.

Due to apron restrictions for both teams, details are still being worked out, sources tell ESPN.

New York is $7.6M less than the second runner-up.

Minnesota cannot recoup more money from trade.

One name not involved is Deuce McBride, according to sources.

– Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) September 28, 2024

New York reportedly pursued the City after the Hornets entered negotiations as a third team. The trade talks also followed the team’s announcement that Mitchell Robinson will miss the start of the 2024-25 season due to offseason ankle surgery.

After Towns returned to Minnesota for the start of training camp next week, the two-time All-NBA member told a source close to him that the trade was “totally unexpected,” according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

Karl-Anthony Towns helped the Minnesota Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Finals last season for the first time in 20 years.

Karl-Anthony Towns, who turns 29 on November 15, grew up just outside of New York City in central New Jersey. Last season in Minnesota, he averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in 62 games (all starts), while shooting 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from 3-point range.

The 7-footer was the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA draft. He helped Minnesota advance to the playoffs for the second time in the franchise’s 35-year history. The Wolves also made the Western Conference finals for the first time in 20 years.

Towns, of course, is from New Jersey and was often represented by Knicks President Leon Rose. There’s a lot to drive home in this story, but Towns was in the gym today in Minnesota preparing to build on last season’s WC Finals run.

– Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) September 28, 2024

City is also in the first season of a four-year, $220 million supermax extension he signed through 2022. The Kentucky product will be reunited with Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, under whom he played in Minnesota (2016 to 2019).

Randle, who turns 30 in December, averaged 24.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in New York last season in 46 games before suffering a sprained right shoulder on Jan. 27.

Knicks, Julius Randle has yet to make progress on a contract extension

After two months of recovery, the rookie opted to undergo season-ending surgery in April. Randle spent the summer rehabbing and was expected to be ready for the start of training camp, according to The Athletic.

Randle has $28.9 million in his contract this coming season and a $30.9 million player option for 2025-26. He and the Knicks have yet to make progress on a contract extension this summer. That eventually led to a trade, according to ESPN’s Shelburne.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch previously coached Randle in New Orleans, when Finch was an assistant coach with the Pelicans in 2018-19. Finch is looking forward to coaching him in Minnesota, sources said.

DiVincenzo, 27, signed a four-year contract with the Knicks last summer. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged a career-high 15.5 points and shot a career-best 40.1% from deep. He made a career-high 283 3-pointers as well.

The Knicks now hold a third chance to win the NBA championship

According to several sports publications, the odds of the Knicks winning the 2025 NBA championship have gone from +900 to +750. However, they still have lower odds than the Boston Celtics (+320) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (+700).

At ESPN BET, the Knicks entered Friday at +800 to win the NBA title this season. After the trade, those odds moved to +700, behind only the Celtics (+340) and the Thunder (+650).

The Knicks and Timberwolves are scheduled to play a preseason game in New York on Oct. 13. They play the first of two regular season games against each other on Dec. 19 in Minneapolis.