The new NBA season is almost here, but the offseason still had one last flurry of fireworks before close. The New York Knicks are acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a protected first round draft pick from the Detroit Pistons , according to The Athletic . The Charlotte Hornets are also getting involved in the deal as a third team.
It’s a stunning deal from any perspective. The Wolves are coming off one of their best seasons ever after making a run to the Western Conference Finals, and now they’re trading one of the pillars of the franchise. The Knicks had already loaded up this offseason with an all-in trade for Mikal Bridges , and now they’ve filled their hole at center in the most dramatic way possible.
This trade reshapes the race for the NBA Finals in both conferences. We included both the Knicks and Wolves in our preseason list of the eight teams that can win the 2025 championship . Suddenly, two of the better teams in the NBA are dramatically different enter the season.
After a deal like this, we need to hand out instant grades from both sides. Knicks grade for Karl-Anthony Towns trade The Knicks have been aggressively trying to increase their championship equity since they made a bold trade to acquire OG Anunoby for R.J.
Barrett and Immanuel Quickley just before New Years Eve. The Knicks took home the No. 2 seed in the East last season by winning 50 games, but by the team reached the se.