In one of the most fascinating and surprising trades the NBA has seen in a while, two talented teams have swapped prominent big men days before the start of preseason. The Minnesota Timberwolves are sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle , guard Donte DiVincenzo , forward Keita Bates-Diop and a future first-round pick via the Detroit Pistons . Advertisement While there are many reasons this move stands out, the financial element adds both intrigue and a possible explanation for why both teams made the deal now instead of during or after this coming season.
The money Randle is currently extension-eligible and has a player option worth $30.9 million for the 2025-26 season. He can control his own destiny in the near term but does not have a longer contract.
This will be his age-30 season, so a new contract via extension or free agency likely covers his early-30s, and there is a lot of variability in his next deal because Randle has made two All-NBA teams in the last four seasons but also has battled more inconsistency than most players who have received those accolades. As such, it makes sense that negotiations could have become contentious, as Randle could lean on his best seasons while the downside risk likely impacted the Knicks’ offer. While Bird rights often lead to free agents returning to their prior team, it is possible the sides were far enough apart to be concerned about how discussions would look in the 2025 offseason.
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