Last fall, the Timberwolves shocked the NBA world by trading franchise cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks just days before training camp started. Minnesota had just made their deepest playoff run in 20 years. The Knicks had already made one monster move, bringing in Mikal Bridges from the neighboring Nets. For many, it represented a regression for the Wolves, prioritizing financial flexibility over seizing the moment. On the Knicks side, KAT was the big center that New York had been waiting for, the perfect fit on a team full of wings and guards. Now that the season has ended for both squads, let’s determine who came out on top in the trade.
The Timberwolves Should Have No Regrets About the KAT Trade
Minnesota Returns to the Conference Finals
The biggest knock on the Wolves’ management following the trade was the implication for Anthony Edwards. He loved playing with Towns and had a great relationship with the All-NBA big man. The two had just helped Minnesota reach the Conference Finals for the first time in two decades, was now really the time to break up their core? General Manager Tim Connelly saw the second apron looming and decided it was. Towns’ enormous contract would’ve pushed the Wolves well into the luxury tax and beyond. This meant repercussions like losing draft capital and limitations in free agency. By splitting his deal into two smaller contracts, Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, Minnesota suddenly had more options. But it wasn’t all about the money for Connelly.
Randle was the obvious piece of the puzzle. He plays the same position as Towns, and both teams had reason to reroute the former All-NBA forwards. The Wolves were seeking something more, though. They were set on DiVincenzo, one of the best shooters in the league, an ideal fit next to Edwards. When the Knicks finally made him available, the Timberwolves pulled the trigger, and the trade was set in motion. The final sweetener for Minnesota was New York throwing in a protected first-round pick via Detroit. The Pistons had long been bottom-feeders in the East, so it seemed unlikely the pick would convey until much later down the line. Instead, Detroit was a surprise playoff team, and Minnesota ended up with the 17th pick in this upcoming draft.
Randle and DiVincenzo both had streaky seasons. Randle struggled to fit in early on, but when he hit his stride in the final few months, Minnesota looked unstoppable. He helped the Wolves to a 17-4 record over the final 21 games of the regular season. He was their most consistent player through two rounds of the postseason. DiVincenzo’s three-point shot came and went, shooting just under 40% for the season, with his worst true shooting percentage since 2021-22. But the results speak for themselves. The Wolves rode a combination of hot play and injury luck to a second straight Conference Finals. Next up, they have decisions to make about Randle’s free agency, Detroit’s first round pick, and how to get over the hump to reach the NBA Finals. Regardless, the flexibility from the KAT trade will make these decisions easier.
New York Makes Deepest Run in 25 Years
Behind Bridges, Towns, and MVP candidate Jalen Brunson, the Knicks made the Conference Finals too, their first appearance since 2000. Getting there meant eliminating the reigning champion Boston Celtics, an impressive feat made more impressive by the fact they twice came back from 20-point deficits to win. However, they too fell short of the Finals, losing in six games to a plucky Pacers squad that gave New York a taste of their own medicine with some remarkable comebacks. Towns was great on the offensive side of the ball throughout the regular season. He averaged 24.4 points and finished second in the NBA with 12.8 rebounds per game. These numbers held in the playoffs, but his defense against Indiana left a lot to be desired. New York found out the hard way that Towns, for all his scoring skills, gives back a good chunk on the defensive end.
However, it’s difficult to call this trade anything other than a success for New York. They made it further than they had in 25 years. Sending Boston home in the second round might be the greatest moment of the millennium for Knicks fans. But with Towns’ contract coming in at over $50 million for each of the next three seasons, there’s not much New York can do to build around him. Brunson signed for multiple years. So is wing OG Anunoby. But the bench is a question mark, and the Knicks will need to get creative to get to the next level.
Knicks and Timberwolves Make Rare Win-Win Trade
Right now, Knicks and Timberwolves fans share a common feeling: frustration. Both were so close to the pinnacle, yet both missed out due to flaws with their newly acquired trade pieces. But if you had offered each of these fan bases a trip to the Conference Finals back in September when the trade went first down, they would’ve ripped your hand off shaking on the deal.
These two teams were mired in mediocrity for the majority of the last 25 years. The chance to play for the conference championship is no small feat. Therefore, at least after this first season, this trade is a win-win. There’s obviously so much left to shake out — Randle’s upcoming player option, Minnesota’s draft pick, and New York possibly getting into the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. But these were two of the NBA’s final four teams remaining. Not a bad trade at all for both the Knicks and Timberwolves.
Featured image: © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
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