Video: Karl-Anthony Towns Respects Wolves Exec Revealing Knicks Trade at His House

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVOctober 18, 2024

David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images

Karl-Anthony Towns had been one of the faces of the franchise for the Minnesota Timberwolves since they selected him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft, so president of basketball operations Tim Connelly took an extra step when it came to informing the big man he was traded to the New York Knicks.

During an appearance on the Roommates Show with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart (four-minute mark), Towns revealed that Connelly came to his house to break the news of the trade.

“I didn’t get called, Tim told me to my face I was traded,” he said while expressing his appreciation for the move.

Both Brunson and Hart immediately expressed their respect for such a move from the executive, who could have just called Towns.

“It’s a tough situation, regardless of what would have happened,” the big man said. “The fact that it happened that way, I have to give him respect.”

Towns explained he was at the house with three of his closest friends and his father, but that didn’t stop Connelly from showing up and explaining the situation.

There was certainly some urgency involved, as the four-time All-Star said he found out about the trade just four minutes before NBA insider Shams Charania reported it.

It ended up being a three-team deal that also involved the Charlotte Hornets and sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves. By landing impact players such as Randle and DiVincenzo, Minnesota should still be able to compete in the loaded Western Conference with enough talent around its star player in Anthony Edwards.

New York bolstered its frontcourt with Mitchell Robinson sidelined to start the season because of an ankle injury. What’s more, Isaiah Hartenstein joined the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason, which further depleted the Knicks’ big man rotation.

Enter Towns, who gives the Eastern Conference team a matchup nightmare who can score on the inside, extend his game beyond the arc and help control the boards.

He averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last season while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from deep. That perimeter shooting could be particularly valuable playing alongside Brunson, as he can work in pick-and-pops and take advantage of additional spacing when defenses collapse on the guard.

New York reached the second round last season but hopes to take another step with the additions of Towns and Mikal Bridges to a roster that already included Brunson, Hart and OG Anunoby, among others.

Competing with the likes of the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers won’t be easy, but the Knicks have star power and players at different positions who can take over games after the headline trade.