Separating Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards Might’ve Ruined Knicks and the Wolves, Udonis Haslem Claims

“If I can, I’m trying to be here [Timberwolves] for my whole career,” Anthony Edwards told ESPN recently, reflecting on his future. A future, he had hoped, would be shared with his “brother” Karl-Anthony Towns. Yet, after Towns’ trade to the New York Knicks, things shifted drastically. And while KAT is physically in New York, it’s clear his heart is still with the Timberwolves, as during a concert, he was even spotted watching a Wolves game. According to Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem, the Wolves may have made a critical mistake by separating these two stars.

In a recent episode of The OGs podcast, Haslem, joined by Mike Miller, gave his take on the trade, and it wasn’t exactly optimistic. “I don’t think that trade makes either one of them a championship contender,” Haslem stated. Despite his concerns, he did have a clearer opinion on which team got the better deal, saying, “I do think if you look at the trade, I think Minnesota got the better of that trade.” Why does UD think that?

He sees potential in the pieces Minnesota picked up. Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a protected first-round pick now belong to the Timberwolves. Still, while this haul might look great on paper, Haslem’s worried about the chemistry. Losing the Edwards-Towns duo means the Wolves will need to rebuild, and that struggle was evident in their recent game against the Lakers, where they fell short.

As for the Knicks, they’re in a similar spot. Haslem believes they’ll face their own challenges in forming a new team dynamic. However, during the pre-season game between the Knicks and Wolves, KAT led his new team to victory. During that game, we again witnessed the ANT-KAT brotherhood, which another NBA player feels got killed by the trade.

Former NBA player JR Smith also explained the trade’s impact on Edwards. “They literally just killed Ant’s momentum with that trade,” he tweeted. Smith’s concern lies in the potential clash between Randle and Edwards’ playing styles. “No knock to Randle, but his game doesn’t fit with Ant,” Smith explained, adding that while fans might not get his point, it’s clearer when viewed through a player’s eyes.

ANT-KAT: Brothers Beyond Basketball

Though the Timberwolves’ trade of Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks caught many off guard, few were as openly affected as Anthony Edwards. During Minnesota’s Media Day, Edwards didn’t hold back. “I think everybody knows KAT’s my brother, so that definitely hurt,” he admitted.

Interestingly, even Towns himself seemed blindsided by the deal. Edwards revealed that once his plane landed, he reached out to KAT. “We were just talking to each other about everything. How it started,” Edwards said, reflecting on their friendship and the unexpected trade.

Even more telling is Towns’ attachment to his former team. Just days ago, Towns’ girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, posted a clip of KAT watching Ant-Man’s Wolves game on his phone—while at a Billie Eilish concert in Madison Square Garden.

And when they finally met on opposite sides of the court, the brotherhood remained strong. After the game, Anthony Edwards insisted on swapping jerseys with KAT. “I told him like, ‘I don’t care who you already told you giving your jersey to, I got to have it,’” Edwards shared. Competing against each other only strengthened their bond, with Edwards adding, “Competing against your brother is always fun.”