How Timberwolves exec kept Karl-Anthony Towns from ‘spazzing out’ over Knicks trade

There’s no bad blood in Minnesota. At least, not between Karl-Anthony Towns and the top gun in Minnesota’s front office.

The Knicks’ newest acquisition, speaking to Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Matt Hillman on the “Roomates Show” podcast, said that Timberwolves president Tim Connelly came to his house to personally deliver the news that shocked the basketball-world earlier this month: Minnesota’s big man was Big Apple-bound. 

“How soon before the Shams tweet did you find out [about the trade]?” Hillman asks.

“Four minutes,” Kat responded. “By the time the shock wore off, Shams had already tweeted.”

Brunson chimed in, asking who from the front office called him with the news.

“I didn’t get called,” Towns says. “Tim [Connelly] told me to my face that I was traded … It was gangster, I ain’t gon’ lie.”

His new Knicks teammates voiced their respect. 

Towns continued: “It’s a tough situation regardless of what would have happened. But the fact that it happened that way, I got to give him respect.”

As the four-time All Star shared, Connelly arrived alone and spoke to all five men — Towns, his father and three friends — who were gathered in Towns’ home.

“[We] could’ve just started spazzing out and crashed out,” Towns said, “so I’ve got to give respect to him.”

The trade that sent KAT to New York ended up being a three-team deal and also involved the Charlotte Hornets. 

As part of the exchange, New York sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota and, to Charlotte, Charlie Brown, DaQuan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr., and two future second-round picks.

The Knicks open regular season play against the reigning champion Celtics in Boston at 7:30 p.m. on Oct 22.