NBA tip-off is only a few weeks away and things are already heating up. On October 1st, the Knicks finalized a trade to send Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves. In return the Knicks acquired center Karl Anthony Towns. Who won this trade? Does this solidify the Knicks as a finals contender? Will the Wolves still perform without their best player? This article will cover everything you need to know regarding this major trade.
It is clear that the Knicks read my previous article and took my advice to pick up a center. After the departure of Isiah Hartenstien, the Knicks looked very thin in the center position, being forced to start injury-prone Mitchel Robinson. The Knicks cleared up this issue by acquiring the three-time all-star, and shooting threat Karl Anthony Towns, but at what cost?
The Knicks gave up veteran Julius Randle, who was the backbone of this franchise for the past few seasons. Randle provided lots of wins and unforgettable moments as a Knick, and will definitely be missed by fans. While Donte DiVincenzo does not have as big a history in New York, he brought some clutch shots and good minutes, which was an important part of this team’s playoff run. Both these players averaged a combined 42 points per game, which will be missed compared to KAT’s 19.
The Timberwolves gave up their former number-one pick Karl Anthony Towns, who claimed he wanted to stay with the Wolves for the rest of his career. The big shot 40% from three last season, four percent higher than the league average. Giving up KAT was a big decision for the Wolves, as he was their best and most consistent player throughout the past few seasons. This shows they are willing to bet on Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid at the center position. While the Wolves lost size, they increased their shooting capabilities, which was a hole for them last year.
Finally, who won this trade? Both teams benefited and gained pieces that they lacked last season. Overall, while this trade was fair, but the Knicks won by a small margin. Randle will only get older, and miss games as he ages. While he will put up good numbers, it is unlikely he performs like he has in the past. DiVincenzo’s game is likely to improve but is unlikely to make a major change in wins. The Knicks acquired the best player in the trade in Karl Anthony Towns, who will complement Jalen Bruson in the pick-and-roll game. KAT’s shooting will help floor spacing, as a shooting big is an uncommon asset that defenses will struggle to deal with. This will create wide open lanes for Bruson to drive to the basket. Considering these factors, it is clear that the Knicks came out on top of this trade.
