Last weekend, NBA fans were blindsided by a blockbuster trade sending Karl Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo among other things. Here is the full summary of the tree team trade, also including the Hornets.
- Knicks receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
- Timberwolves receive: Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, 2025 first-round pick (via Knicks via Pistons)
- Hornets receive: Charlie Brown, DaQuan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr., two second-round picks (via Knicks), one second-round pick (via Timberwolves)
The trade moves Julius Randle, who signed with the team in 2019 free agency, won Most Improved Player in the 2022-21 season, the same year the Knicks snapped an 8-year playoff drought, and the same year Tom Thibodeau won Coach of the Year. Randle is largely credited with kickstarting the rebuild that led the Knicks to the championship contender it is today. Fans have taken to social media to express their gratitude for Randle’s service to the franchise.
Julius’ goodbye was short and sweet and came via Instagram, he also spoke about the trade experience in his first press conference in Minnesota.
One of the “Nova Knicks” Donte DiVincenzo is also on the move in this deal.
Donte DiVincenzo’s time with the knicks was much shorter than Randle’s but the fanbase fell in love with “The Big Ragu” and his Villanova buddies. DiVincenzo seamlessly stepped into a bigger role for the Knicks in the playoffs as injuries continued to pile up for New York, cementing his legacy in the Garden and earning a spot in the hearts of Knicks fans forever.
DiVincenzo made a statement to fans that made the rounds on social media Thursday morning.
“Until next time…” DiVincenzo wrote, keeping hope alive for a reunion one day. I personally hope we haven’t seen the last of the Big Ragu in a Knicks uniform.
The Knicks add to their promising off-season acquisition of Mikal Bridges and solve a fundamental issue by lading a franchise big man with a good health record. The Knicks starting five is one of the scariest in the league with a presumed starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl Anthony Towns. Depth may be an issue for the team as center Mitchell Robinson is expected to miss an extended period of time recovering from a recent foot surgery and Tom Thibodeau’s teams are known to fall apart due to injury late in the season. Load Management should be an increased priority for the team this season.
Knicks fans obviously aren’t the only ones left saddened by this trade as the Minnesota fanbase has quite literally watch Karl Anthony Towns mature in the league. Towns shared a heartfelt thank you via twitter to the franchise and fanbase that developed and supported the young star for nine years.
The Knicks continue to be my second-ranked team in the East, behind the defending champion Celtics but also compete with the 76ers and Bucks for glory in the Eastern conference. The Celtics will host the Knicks on opening night in just 19 days on October 22nd, allowing fans to gauge the gap between the two contenders.
Written By Raven Ullah, WUFO Intern
