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: Knicks have acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick via Detroit, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski . pic.
twitter.com/FafQlY48Y1 The Hornets are also involved in the deal, strictly to make the money work and get a pick for their troubles: Knicks are sending salary -- including DaQuan Jeffries -- and draft compensation to Charlotte in three-team Karl-Anthony Towns/Julius Randle deal, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski . https://t.
co/dP4x8dTvr9 But the pick going to Minnesota? It’s not a guarantee to convey, as it’s protected if it lands...
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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 dea.