What’s the deal for Towns being traded to the Knicks? Did he request it from Timberwolves?

With the preseason underway, training camps about to open, and the first exhibition games just days away, the NBA has been shaken by a blockbuster trade. The New York Knicks, considered by many a top contender to dethrone the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, in the east, have finalised a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are seen as one of the strongest threats to Dallas Mavericks (the Western Conference finalists).

Towns to New York: the trade

Karl-Anthony Towns, the 2015 No. 1 draft pick, will leave the Timberwolves after nine years and join a Knicks squad in need of a center following Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure and Mitchell Robinson’s injury troubles. While there were talks of smaller-scale solutions (Clint Capela, Isaiah Stewart), no one expected such a big move: Towns is a four-time All-Star (most recently last season) and had been a key player for the Timberwolves, who had one of their best seasons ever, eliminating the defending champion Denver Nuggets but ultimately falling to Luka Dončić's Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.

Minnesota sends Towns (6′11″, 28 years old) to the Knicks, while receiving power forward Julius Randle (29), shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo (27), and a 2025 first-round pick from the Detroit Pistons, with a top-13 protection. The Charlotte Hornets facilitated the trade as a third team to help balance the salaries involved.

Bridges, Anunoby... and now Towns

Towns will reunite with Tom Thibodeau, who coached him in Minnesota from 2016 to 2019. No longer alongside rising star Anthony Edwards or in the somewhat questionable “twin towers” experiment with Rudy Gobert, Towns will likely play a more traditional centre role with the Knicks. There, he can fully utilise his scoring and shooting abilities next to playmaker Jalen Brunson. What won’t change is the ambition: the Timberwolves were striving for a championship, and now the Knicks, who have been ultra-aggressive in recent months, have added OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and now Towns via trades. This significantly boosts their championship hopes. New York hasn’t won a title since 1973 and hasn’t reached the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.

During his time under Thibodeau (2016-19), Towns averaged 23 points and 12.3 rebounds, was a two-time All-Star, and led the Timberwolves to their first playoff appearance in 14 years. Last season, the Dominican-American center averaged 21 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3 assists, and shot 41.6% from three. The Knicks, who were ravaged by injuries in last year’s playoffs and lost in the semifinals to the Indiana Pacers, see Towns as the final piece of the puzzle in their pursuit of the title, with their eyes set on dethroning the Boston Celtics, once again the favourites in the East.

Did Towns request the Knicks move?

Randle missed last year’s playoffs after suffering a shoulder injury on January 27, which led to a complicated rehabilitation process and eventually surgery in April. He was averaging 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and five assists before the injury. Despite his talent, Randle has been criticised for his defence and how much his production helps in critical moments – an issue that has also been raised about Towns.

Although Towns has improved defensively in recent years, he self-proclaimed himself the best shooting big man in history but disappointed against the Mavericks when Minnesota was on the verge of reaching their first NBA Finals. According to reports from Minnesota, Towns did not request the trade and was “stunned” by the deal. The trade also included a protected first-round pick from the Pistons and DiVincenzo, a key player for the Knicks in last year’s playoffs, where he averaged nearly 18 points per game while shooting 42% from the three.

What financial implications are in the Towns trade?

From a financial standpoint, the Timberwolves reduce their salary burden. This trade is unexpected, especially after last season’s success, but Minnesota is entangled in issues related to ownership, further complicating the franchise’s future. Towns’ four-year, $220 million contract extension, signed in 2022, kicks in for the 2024-25 season, and he holds a player option worth $61 million for 2027-28.

Randle has one year left on his contract (worth $28.9 million), with a player option of $30.9 million for 2025-26. DiVincenzo has three years remaining on his contract, a solid deal given his strong performance last season, earning around $12 million per year.