Knicks trade Julius Randle to Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns in rare player swap between contenders

In one of the more shocking offseason Friday news dumps in recent NBA memory, the Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a protected first-round pick.

Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic broke the news that a deal was close, and then came in over the top for the biggest scoop so far of the the new, post-Woj reporting world to confirm the trade was indeed done:

The Hornets are also involved in the deal, strictly to make the money work and get a pick for their troubles:

But the pick going to Minnesota? It’s not a guarantee to convey, as it’s protected if it lands…

1-13 in 2025
1-11 in 2026
1-9 in 2027

…and if it has not been sent to the Wolves by 2027, then it becomes a second-rounder. So given the Pistons’ current situation, it’s not clear the Wolves even got a real first-round pick here — are you positive Detroit won’t be one of the nine worst teams in the league in 2027? — so this had to at least be a partially financially motivated move on Minnesota’s part, designed to clear KAT’s long-term deal off their books and replace it with DiVincenzo’s manageable, descending contract, and Randle’s (possibly) expiring one (he has a player option for next summer worth $30 million):

The Minnesota Timberwolves stand to save $26.5 million in payroll and luxury tax penalties if they don’t take on any additional salaries in this trade.

They are still set to be over the $188.9 million second apron this season. They’re $14.5 million above it with 15 players.

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) September 28, 2024

The timing of the trade certainly interesting for the Wolves.

The move could save the Wolves upwards of $50 million in luxury tax $ this season and drastically improves the odds Naz Reid remains in Minnesota long-term.

DDV/NAW/TSJ is a very fun wing trio https://t.co/PRR5YSpf9g

— Jack Borman (@jrborman13) September 28, 2024

KAT evidently has feelings on the move, and while it’s TBD if his thinly veiled subtweets (and the subsequent leaks about his perspective) are more about the Wolves shipping him in the dead of night right before camp, or any ill feelings towards his new destination, it certainly confirms we’re going to be seeing and thinking about the off-court ramifications of this trade for a while too:

One thing to be clear on tonight: KAT did not request this trade. He never has requested a move in nine years here.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 28, 2024

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.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 28, 2024

Karl-Anthony Towns is “still processing” this trade, according to a source close to him. But it’s worth nothing Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has been publicly very complimentary of him since he left Minnesota—something that’s been noted by Towns. https://t.co/Yysccrbne6

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) September 28, 2024

First reaction? Pour one out for the Superfriends era in New York. Not even Villanova connections could keep DiVincenzo from getting sent to Minnesota to make contracts match as the Knicks get the star center they’ve been looking for. Replacing his contributions on the court will be something New York can likely manage, but replacing the chemistry points he brings to the locker room? TBD.

Second reaction? It’s so strange to see two teams coming off conference finals bids make player-for-player trades with each other, seemingly motivated more by finances for one side. Usually star trades involve one heading to another team in pick-heavy package, not one team sending out a former All-Star to save cash while still trying to contend.

But the Wolves were set to face historic luxury tax payments to keep their Western Conference Finals core of KAT (who is due more than $200 million over the next four years), Rudy Gobert ($43 million this year, $46 million next) and Anthony Edwards (about to start his own max extension nearing $50 million annually). And while in a messy ownership dispute between two sides that both appear light on cash, it looks like they made a call that keeping their two-big frontcourt wasn’t worth the hefty second apron penalties they’d have to pay to do so, and will hope Randle can replicate enough of KAT’s skillset to get by (as well as that offloading Towns’ deal allows them to keep the rest of their frontcourt together):

It’s worth noting that Rudy Gobert is currently extension-eligible. He has a $46.7 million player option for next season and could extend at a lower starting salary.

That possibility, along with Karl Anthony-Towns’ contract off the books, would leave the Timberwolves in a much… https://t.co/hr8uUG33t0

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) September 28, 2024

For the Knicks, it appears they are all-in to pay any price to bring New York a title around Jalen Brunson’s unprecedented contract sacrifice. Once they get past any sad feelings about losing one of their Villanova infinity stones, Towns gives them exactly the sort of spacing, offensively skilled big that could take their offense up a level to break through in the Eastern Conference. He’s certainly an expensive final piece, but he’s also one that could be massively overqualified for the role New York needs from him. And as last year’s historically expensive and deep Boston Celtics team showed, when an organization is loading up to make a run at a title, they can’t pinch pennies. At least on first glance, it would appear New York knows that, and that it’s a secondary priority for Minnesota.

This breaking news story may be updated with more information and analysis as it continues to develop.