The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, according to confirmation from local media. In exchange, the Timberwolves are expected to receive Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, along with a first-round draft pick.
Towns, who was the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, has spent his entire career in Minnesota. He shared a message on social media following the trade news.
The move allows Towns to return to his home state of New Jersey and reunite with Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached him in Minnesota for two and a half seasons.
Earlier this month, CBS Sports ranked Towns as the 38th best NBA player entering the 2024-25 season, following a regular season where he averaged over 21 points and eight rebounds, despite battling a torn meniscus.
In return, the Timberwolves are gaining Randle, a three-time All-Star power forward, and sharpshooter DiVincenzo. Randle, who was picked seventh overall in 2014 by the Los Angeles Lakers, has played the last five seasons with the Knicks, averaging 24 points and just over nine rebounds in 46 games last season before undergoing shoulder surgery. Knicks coach Thibodeau has indicated Randle should be ready for training camp.
DiVincenzo, a first-round draft pick in 2018, has played for multiple teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors. He shot over 40% from beyond the arc in his time with the Knicks last season.
The Timberwolves, who recently reached the Western Conference Finals and ended their last regular season with a 56-25 record, will play their first preseason game on October 4 against the Lakers. Towns is scheduled to make his return to Target Center on December 19 when the Timberwolves host the Knicks.