NEW YORK — In a major NBA shakeup, the New York Knicks acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team trade on Wednesday.
In exchange, the Knicks sent Julius Randle to Minnesota, with other key players and picks involved in the deal.
The trade also saw the Knicks pick up the draft rights to James Nnaji from the Charlotte Hornets. Meanwhile, the Knicks sent Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, and a future first-round pick to Minnesota, and Charlie Brown, DaQuan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr., and two future second-round picks to Charlotte.
Towns, a 7-foot (2.13m) center and four-time NBA All-Star, played a pivotal role in guiding the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals last season for the first time in 20 years.
“We are thrilled to welcome Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks,” said team president Leon Rose. “He brings an incredibly unique skill set to the game, with his ability to playmake, shoot, rebound, and defend.
His size and versatility make him a rare talent in the league, and we are confident he will elevate our team and fit seamlessly into the culture we are building here.”
Towns, 28, boasts an impressive career average of 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game across nine seasons, all with Minnesota.
In a heartfelt farewell to Minnesota, Towns posted on social media: “Nine years ago, I came to Minnesota as a young man with a dream, not knowing this place would become my home and its people my family.
Thank you to the Timberwolves organization, my teammates, coaches, and most importantly, the fans. Your support has meant the world to me.”
Julius Randle, a three-time NBA All-Star, played a crucial role in leading the Knicks to the playoffs in three of the past four seasons.
Over his 10-season NBA career, including five years with New York, Randle has averaged 19.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
“Julius worked tirelessly to represent the Knicks with skill, grit, and determination. We are grateful for the tremendous contributions he made in helping build the foundation of our team,” said Rose.
Additionally, Nnaji, a 20-year-old Nigerian guard, has spent the last three seasons playing for Barcelona in Spain, while DiVincenzo, a 27-year-old guard with NBA championship experience from his time with the Golden State Warriors, has averaged 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists throughout his career.