Basketball
Karl-Anthony Towns’ Trade to Knicks Stuns NBA Fans as T-Wolves Land Julius Randle
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The New York Knicks are acquiring Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft pick via the Detroit Pistons, per Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
More will be needed to get the trade done, per Fred Katz of The Athletic.
Needless to say, this was stunning NBA news on Friday evening, and Towns himself had a reaction.
And others were shocked or bewildered for various reasons.
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
The #Knicks were always going to have to trade Randle for a center. Thought it’d be someone like Stewart though…what a stunner. #Wolves had enormous 2nd apron, tax concerns with Towns’ contract. He was probably gone at some point. But this soon? Wow. https://t.co/8PmurHi1UH
John Jastremski @john_jastremski
Holy shit. This trade blew my mind… Towns instead of Randle is very preferable. Hate losing Donte, but after the last few years how do you not trust this regime? https://t.co/izxtfbFruf
30🅿️roblemz @30problemz
WOW… JULIUS RANDLE AND DONTE DIVINCENZO FOR KARL ANTHONY TOWNS…
HOW YALL FEEL ABOUT THIS TRADE? WHO WON? pic.twitter.com/oZ11FR3Q66
Mbkalex @mbkalex
Was kind of shell shocked for a minute… That 1-2 combo pick n roll gonna be unstoppable, towns actually roles, and can also shoot the 3 better than Randle.. Don’t sleep on a player from the area who wanted to be here.. Dominicans are celebrating in the streets tonight!! https://t.co/HqejbcPxz6
Adam Stock @AdamGStock
Wow. Since when do trades like this happen in preseason. Boost for Randle since the Wolves have less offense after their top 2 than NY. Good for DD too. Should be locked into a high 20s role now even though he’ll come off the bench. Should go before the final rounds. Bump for… https://t.co/0OQdFPepbp
David J. Smith @davidjsmith1232
Wow…was not expecting this tonight. At initial glance, I like this more for NYK than MIN. KAT can fit in well with the Knicks, provides more shooting and can more easily plan center than Randle. https://t.co/DtmT2jwKGy
NBA fans won’t have to wait long to see the players in action for new teams with the regular season beginning in under a month. In addition, the first Minnesota-New York regular-season matchup will go down on Dec. 19 in Minneapolis.