NBA insiders break down biggest questions on Knicks-Timberwolves trade

The final weekend of the offseason brings us another league-shaking deal involving two teams with NBA Finals aspirations.

Karl-Anthony Towns will join the New York Knicks with Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo going to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources told ESPN. The Timberwolves will also acquire a 2025 top-13 protected first-round pick from the Knicks, with the Charlotte Hornets receiving draft compensation to facilitate the deal.

Towns spent nine seasons in Minnesota since being drafted as the No.1 pick in 2015. The four-time All-Star big man averaged 22.9 points and will reunite with head coach Tom Thibodeau, for whom he played from 2016 to 2019.

Randle, a three-time All-Star forward, has been sidelined since January due to a right shoulder injury that later required surgery in April. DiVincenzo, a six-year veteran sharpshooter, finished last season with career highs in games played (81) and 3-point percentage (40%).

Here's what our NBA insiders are hearing from around the league about the blockbuster move.

What are league insiders saying about Towns' fit in New York?

Ramona Shelburne: The Knicks' biggest need was at center, following the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein and injury to Mitchell Robinson, and they just filled it with a top-five center in the league. Towns should help balance the scoring and space the floor with his career 39% 3-point shooting.

Chris Herring: That it obviously addresses the Knicks' question concerning who will hold down the center position, which was thin after losing Hartenstein in free agency and Robinson's ankle surgery that figures to hold him out for the next couple of months. Towns gives New York an incredible amount of spacing -- and scoring punch as a No. 2 -- on offense, and he has experience playing in Thibodeau's defensive system. But at first blush, he lacks the rugged, physical style that players like Randle and DiVincenzo brought to the team.

Bobby Marks: Seamless is one word that a team described to me about Towns' fit. The Knicks were desperate to get a center. Not only does Towns fill that void but he also gives New York a true stretch 5. Towns is one of four players to average 20 points, 50% shooting and 40% on 3-pointers last season. Factor in also that Towns already has a comfort level playing for Thibodeau, after spending three years with the Knicks' coach in Minnesota.

What are league insiders saying about Randle's fit in Minnesota? Is this his final destination?

Shelburne: This trade is possible because Naz Reid has developed so well. He probably still comes off the bench, and there are questions about the spacing with Randle and Rudy Gobert, but Wolves coach Chris Finch is a fan of Randle, having coached him to a breakout season in New Orleans back in 2018-19.

Herring: That the Wolves are taking a big-picture approach. Randle figures to stay in Minnesota, as he can opt out of his deal after this season. That reality gives Minnesota far more financial flexibility than it had under Towns' massive contract, which is in excess of $220 million. It's also noteworthy that this deal isn't just about Towns and Randle. DiVincenzo was fantastic last season, and finished third in the league in 3-pointers, after Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic. He's on one of the NBA's best value contracts and will be a key part of the Wolves' rotation.

Marks: Whether the tenure of Randle in Minnesota is short term or part of the future. Randle has a $30.9 million player option for next season and can become a free agent. He is eligible to sign a four-year, $181 million extension six months after the trade is completed. For now, Randle gives Minnesota an All-NBA forward to complement Gobert and better roster flexibility moving forward. Before his shoulder injury last season, Randle had 19 straight 20-point games, the longest streak of his career.

The biggest winner in this deal is ____?

Shelburne: The Knicks -- who have done nothing but go all-in this summer by trading for Mikal Bridges, extending Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby and now acquiring Towns. They now have three bona fide stars, all on the same timeline. Yes, they are right up against the second apron and have depleted their draft capital. But in today's NBA, this is about as well as a team can position itself to contend for several years.

Herring: Can I use a lifeline here? The truth is, I have no clue yet. I was excited to see how the Knicks looked with Bridges in the lineup, which will now include Towns as opposed to Randle and DiVincenzo -- a much different look and style. I do like Minnesota streamlining its ample big-man rotation, and that it has more wing scoring at its disposal now. It has more cap flexibility going forward, too. But I can't get over how massive a swing this is for both clubs, who seemed to be on an upward trajectory without these deals. They'll be among the most interesting teams in the association this season.

Marks: Can I answer this question in June? The Knicks continue to go all-in with their roster, first trading five first-round picks for Bridges and then absorbing the $220 million salary owed to Towns. The positive, however, is that New York did not have to trade backup guard Deuce McBride as part of the deal and still has Josh Hart coming off the bench. As for Minnesota, it is still a top-four team in the West but how far it goes depends on the health of Randle. Randle had arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle last April and most recently underwent season-ending surgery to repair the dislocated shoulder he suffered in January. The addition of DiVincenzo brings stability and perimeter shooting to a young Minnesota bench. Last year with New York, DiVincenzo made 283 3-pointers, the most in a season in Knicks history. His 241 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season were the most in the NBA, per Second Spectrum.

The biggest remaining question mark is ____?

Shelburne: Whether the Knicks have enough now to dethrone the Boston Celtics and get past the other contenders in the East. They are clearly more talented now after their offseason home run swings. But now that they've gone all-in, this group has to produce because the Knicks have mostly exhausted their assets and flexibility.

Herring: There are a couple, honestly. How does Randle -- who sometimes takes ill-advised shots and dribbles into traffic -- jell with Anthony Edwards on the floor? Will Towns be a natural fit alongside his physical Knicks' teammates?

Marks: What else is New York sending out in the trade? Because New York is over the first apron, it is not allowed to take back the Towns contract without sending out additional salary besides Randle and DiVincenzo. As Tim Bontemps reported, the Hornets are part of this trade and will absorb additional salary. The Knicks and Hornets are still working out the details of who is involved. Similar to when New York agreed to acquire Bridges in late June, expect more players to be involved.

How will Towns' tenure in Minnesota be remembered?

Shelburne: Fondly, but incomplete. He waited a long time to play with a co-star like Edwards. It would have been nice to see this team get one more crack at it after last season's conference finals. But Towns wasn't on the same timeline as the Wolves' young core anymore and he made too much to stay under the new CBA. It's worth noting he never once asked for a trade or complained about being in Minnesota -- which is a big reason the team sent him to a situation he'd be happy with.

Herring: As someone who was wildly talented and played a role in beginning to turn things around for the Wolves. He was seemingly never the lead star turning the tide -- that was more Jimmy Butler and then eventually Edwards -- but few big men in the league were better during the former No. 1 pick's time in Minnesota. Aside from what he did on the court, he showed an unusual amount of vulnerability in 2020 and 2021, particularly after losing his mother and seven other relatives to COVID-19.

Marks: As a future Hall of Famer who finally brought stability to a losing franchise. Since he was drafted in 2015, Towns endured numerous coaching changes (three since current head coach Chris Finch was hired) and endless trips to the lottery. He will finish his time in Minnesota ranked behind only Kevin Garnett in points scored for the franchise.

How will Randle's tenure in New York be remembered?

Shelburne: Until his injury last year Randle was an Ironman. He played hard in every game. Two things valued highly by Knicks coach Thibodeau. He had flaws, and sometimes didn't handle the crowd well. But he eventually overcame a lot of that and earned respect around the franchise and the city. He was something of a consolation prize after the Knicks didn't land Kevin Durant in free agency in 2019. But he far exceeded those initial expectations to become an MVP candidate in 2020.

Herring: In a number of ways, it will be similar to the way Wolves fans saw Towns' tenure. Randle was highly flawed at times, especially early in his time in New York. But his work ethic and on-court improvements helped the Knicks turn a corner on what had been the league's most dismal run over the preceding two decades. He made two All-NBA teams and often looked the part of a No. 1 option before struggling mightily multiple times in the postseason. Randle hoped to rewrite his postseason narrative this past season alongside fellow star Jalen Brunson, but the forward suffered a dislocated shoulder in late January, and after rehabbing was unable to return to the lineup. Still, on an individual scale, he exceeded the expectations that fans had upon the Knicks signing him back in 2018.

Marks: Unfinished. Yes, Randle was named All-NBA three times with New York, but most fans will remember his shortcomings in the Atlanta and Miami playoff series that contributed to a long stint of postseason disappointments for the Knicks.