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The New York Knicks are acquiring Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft pick via the Detroit Pistons, per Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
More will be needed to get the trade done, per Fred Katz of The Athletic.
Fred Katz @FredKatz
The Knicks and Timberwolves will need a third team to facilitate a Julius Randle/Donte DiVincenzo/Karl-Anthony Towns trade. Both teams are above the first apron, meaning neither is allowed to take on more money than it sends out in a deal.
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Knicks could get there in a number of ways, but trading just Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo is not enough to land Karl-Anthony Towns salary-wise. The money does not work. Knicks need to add about $9 million more to the deal.
Needless to say, this was stunning NBA news on Friday evening, and Towns himself had a reaction.
Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynski
The word from the Towns camp is this: “Stunned.”
Nine years with the Wolves. Impeccable in the community. All-Star and All-NBA. Now a New York Knick.
And others were shocked or bewildered for various reasons.
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
The #Knicks were always going to have to trade Randle for a center. Thought it’d be someone like Stewart though…what a stunner. #Wolves had enormous 2nd apron, tax concerns with Towns’ contract. He was probably gone at some point. But this soon? Wow. https://t.co/8PmurHi1UH
Chris Beasmore @CBeasmoreSports
Wow Karl-Anthony Towns just got traded for Julius Randle, that’s crazy. #BBN https://t.co/e7eXCWt0k9
John Jastremski @john_jastremski
Holy shit. This trade blew my mind… Towns instead of Randle is very preferable. Hate losing Donte, but after the last few years how do you not trust this regime? https://t.co/izxtfbFruf
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Crazy — Julius Randle getting praise as a New York Knick from Thibodeau this week, how attached he was to the city and the team.
Jaquam Bodden @JaquamB
The NBA is crazy Julius Randle was just at the Ground breaking for the new Earl Monroe New Renaissance school and now this wow…..
30🅿️roblemz @30problemz
WOW… JULIUS RANDLE AND DONTE DIVINCENZO FOR KARL ANTHONY TOWNS…
HOW YALL FEEL ABOUT THIS TRADE? WHO WON? pic.twitter.com/oZ11FR3Q66
Mbkalex @mbkalex
Was kind of shell shocked for a minute… That 1-2 combo pick n roll gonna be unstoppable, towns actually roles, and can also shoot the 3 better than Randle.. Don’t sleep on a player from the area who wanted to be here.. Dominicans are celebrating in the streets tonight!! https://t.co/HqejbcPxz6
Mayowa. @Wana____
Part of me is wondering why Timberwolves would do that.
Towns is better than Randle at everything. It makes no sense.
Fitz @FitzGSN_
KAT is soft as tissue paper and idk how Randle fits with Ant at all. I’m also kinda stunned Thibs would be cool with coaching KAT again
Adam Stock @AdamGStock
Wow. Since when do trades like this happen in preseason. Boost for Randle since the Wolves have less offense after their top 2 than NY. Good for DD too. Should be locked into a high 20s role now even though he’ll come off the bench. Should go before the final rounds. Bump for… https://t.co/0OQdFPepbp
Cole Trickle @KURTspeeds
Wow. Not likely but if they someone keep Randle too, then wow wow https://t.co/52xdePZEK8
David J. Smith @davidjsmith1232
Wow…was not expecting this tonight. At initial glance, I like this more for NYK than MIN. KAT can fit in well with the Knicks, provides more shooting and can more easily plan center than Randle. https://t.co/DtmT2jwKGy
NBA fans won’t have to wait long to see the players in action for new teams with the regular season beginning in under a month. In addition, the first Minnesota-New York regular-season matchup will go down on Dec. 19 in Minneapolis.
