Knicks Acquire Karl-Anthony Towns, James Nnaji in Blockbuster Trade Involving Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo

Oct 2, 2024, 01:47 AM

The New York Knicks have officially acquired Karl-Anthony Towns in a blockbuster trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Charlotte Hornets. The deal sends Towns and the draft rights of James Nnaji to the Knicks, while the Timberwolves receive Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, and a 2025 first-round pick. The Hornets receive three second-round picks, DaQuan Jeffries, Charlie Brown Jr., Duane Washington Jr., and $7.2 million in cash. The trade significantly impacts the NBA landscape, with the Knicks' championship odds improving from +950 to +750 according to BetMGM and Bovada. Towns' move to New York marks the end of his nine-year tenure in Minnesota, where he was a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player. The Knicks' front office, led by Leon Rose and Brock Aller, executed complex cap maneuvers to finalize the trade despite being an apron team. The salary cap played a huge role in the decision, and the Knicks had been pursuing Towns for months, including offering Mitchell Robinson earlier.