By Shams Charania, Jon Krawczynski and Mark Puleo
The New York Knicks are nearing a trade for four-time All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, league sources tell The Athletic. The Knicks will send the Minnesota Timberwolves a package centered around forward Julius Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round pick.
Towns, 28, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Timberwolves since being drafted No. 1 in the 2015 NBA Draft. He averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 2023-24, returning to All-Star form after missing much of the 2022-23 season with a knee injury.
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— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) September 28, 2024
After winning 50 games last season, their most in a decade, the Knicks have made significant moves to upgrade a roster built around 28-year-old point guard Jalen Brunson. Beyond Towns, the team acquired wing Mikal Bridges in an early-summer trade with the Brooklyn Nets and re-signed forward OG Anunoby.
The Timberwolves are coming off a 56-win season in which they advanced to the Western Conference finals behind Anthony Edwards’ ascendant play. Randle, 29, was an All-Star for the third time in his career last season, but underwent shoulder surgery in April. At the time, the Knicks announced he would be re-evaluated in five months.
DiVincenzo, 27, averaged a career-high 15.5 points per game last season while making 40.1 percent from 3. The Timberwolves will be his fifth NBA team in four seasons.
The Knicks will also send DaQuan Jeffries and future draft compensation to the Charlotte Hornets as part of the trade, league sources tell The Athletic.
(Photo: David Berding / Getty Images)