The winner of the blockbuster trade between the Knicks and Timberwolves may very well be the Nuggets. Denver wasn’t involved in the three-team trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota to New York in exchange Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round draft pick from Detroit. Charlotte, by taking on some salary from the Knicks in return for draft compensation, helped facilitate the trade that looks beneficial to the Nuggets’ chances of reaching the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons.
Kickin' it with Kiz: Nikola Jokic's buddy Tim Connelly did Joker a big favor by trading Karl-Anthony Towns Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said he wasn’t aware of the trade until media asked him about it after practice Saturday afternoon. “What trade?” Murray said with a straight face. “I’m not on social media.
I just worry about us. I don’t really care about anybody else.” With the new collective bargaining agreement, the Timberwolves were always going to have to move Towns or Rudy Gobert if they had any hopes of staying under the second apron of the luxury tax, but Minnesota could’ve gone all in on the upcoming season before deciding whom to trade.
It feels similar to Denver’s tough decision to effectively let Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk in free agency in that it decreased the team’s championship odds for next season but could keep the championship window open for longer given the increased flexibility. Losing Towns is a bigger step back f.