Karl-Anthony Towns ‘Still Processing’ Stunning Trade To Knicks

It came on a late Friday night, and Karl-Anthony Towns found out when most of the rest of us did. He’s being traded from the Timberwolves to the Knicks in an NBA blockbuster, as we relayed here.

So it’s no big surprise to learn that Towns is supposedly still stunned.

Per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Towns is “‘still processing’ this trade, according to a source close to him. But it’s worth noting Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has been publicly very complimentary of him since he left Minnesota — something that’s been noted by Towns.”

In return, the Timberwolves will receive forward Julius Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft pick (via the Pistons).

The Hornets are expected to serve as a third team in the deal to help make salaries match.

Reports surfaced in July that the Knicks had a strong interest in Towns, who played Thibodeau when Thibodeau coached the Timberwolves. Also, Knicks president Leon Rose used to be Towns’ agent when Rose ran CAA.

Towns and Anthony Edwards have massive extensions kicking in next season and Rudy Gobert is slated to make max money as well. It was widely believed that Towns or Gobert needed to be traded for the Timberwolves to avoid paying a huge luxury tax bill under the new CBA.

Towns averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks last season, shooting 50.4% from the field, 41.6% from on 3-pointers and 87.3% from the free-throw line.

A four-time All-Star, he carries career averages of 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.3 blocks. 

Towns, who has made two All-NBA teams, signed a four-year, $221 million extension in July 2022. He will make $49.4 million this season. 

New York, of course, already made one major move this offseason, acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Nets. Now they have made another and the incoming player is even bigger.

(Ashish Mathur contributed to this report.)