MINNEAPOLIS— Big KAT is officially heading to the Big Apple.
The Minnesota Timberwolves formally announced a trade on Wednesday former franchise cornerstone From Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. In a three-team trade, the Wolves received Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle and Keita Bates-Diop and a first-round pick, while also sending a second-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets.
Towns also said goodbye to Wolves fans on social media on Wednesday.
“Nine years ago, I arrived in Minnesota as a young man with a dream. Little did I know that this place would become my home, and its people would become my family,” Towns said. “Your love, support and unwavering loyalty have fueled my journey and inspired me to be the best player I can be.
News of the trade first broke on Friday.
The 28-year-old Towns was the first No. 1 overall pick in Wolves history when they took him in 2015. He won Rookie of the Year that season, despite the Wolves finishing bottom of the league. Towns’ early years were marked by mediocre Wolves teams, until head coach Chris Finch and Anthony Edwards arrived to turn the franchise around.
Towns ranks first in Wolves history in three-pointers made and second in minutes played, points and points per game. He’s right behind franchise legend Kevin Garnett in career earnings shares.
While Towns likely never developed into the superstar expected to become the No. 1 overall pick, he is still among the league’s best players and has settled well into his role in the Wolves’ big three with Edwards and Rudy Gobert. During last year’s playoffs – the team’s best in two decades – his defense against MVP Nikola Jokic, as well as his scoring ability, proved to be the difference in the team’s victory over the Denver Nuggets.
In DiVincenzo, the Wolves get a much-needed elite three-point shooter, who should help elevate an offense that finished in the middle of the pack last year.
Randle will likely take Towns’ starting role alongside Gobert in the frontcourt, although he is a fan favorite Naz Reid will certainly get minutes there too.
Bates-Diop – originally a Timberwolves draft pick in 2018 – has become a role player in the league and gives the Wolves more depth on the bench.
The Wolves start the season October 22 in Los Angeles against the Lakers. They will face Towns and the Knicks on December 19.
