Before news about the Karl Anthony cities The trading broke down on social media on Friday evening. Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly visited Towns at his home in Minnesota to inform him that he had been sold to the United States Curtsysays Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

As Krawczynski points out, the fact that the Wolves released one of their highest-paid players wasn’t a complete surprise given the team’s high payroll in the 2024-25 season and beyond, but the timing of the move was “an absolute lightning strike.” no one saw that coming,” after the team spent the offseason praising its roster continuity and chemistry.

According to Krawczynski, the Wolves found it increasingly difficult to imagine a scenario in which they could keep their existing squad intact beyond the 2024-25 season. Sources tell The Athletic that if Towns had stayed in Minnesota long-term, it likely would have meant saying goodbye to the fan favorite Naz Reid And Nickel Alexander-Walker.

Get two rotation players – Julius Randle And Donte DiVincenzo – in return, this will provide more flexibility for the Wolves, especially since Randle has the opportunity to reach free agency in 2025. While it doesn’t sound like there are any immediate plans to flip the signings – Krawczynski says Randle “There are a lot of supporters” in Minnesota and the team has long been interested in DiVincenzo – their contracts should make it easier for them if needed make entering the trade market when Towns was the one who still had four years and $220 million left on his contract, notes Krawczynski.

Learn more about the Towns trade, which is still in the final stages, here:

• The Knicks have called the Timberwolves repeatedly over the years to express their interest in Towns, but those conversations have never really developed into full-scale negotiations until now, says Fred Katz of The Athletic.
• While the “Villanova Knicks” will not be on the field this season – DiVincenzo has already been sent to Minnesota before Mikal Bridges played his first game as a Knick – the club is thrilled with the way Towns will complement Bridges, Jalen BrunsonAnd OG AnunobyLeague sources tell The Athletic. Katz adds that Towns’ plus-minus numbers helped convince the Knicks to roll the dice on him, as the Wolves have consistently been better with him on the court throughout his career.
• There is not expected to be any ongoing tension between Towns and the former Wolves head coach Tom Thibodeau. Towns has spoken publicly about harboring no hard feelings toward Thibodeau after their tumultuous time together in Minnesota from 2016 to 2019, and a source close to the Knicks head coach says he feels the same, according to Katz. “If a man can play” This source said: “Thibs wants him.”
• Although Towns and Randle have seven All-Star nominations between them, both stars have some question marks surrounding their injury history, contract situations and defense. The Ringer’s Michael Pina considers the risk both sides are taking with this move and questions the timing of the agreement.
• In his analysis of the deal, The Athletic’s John Hollinger notes that the Knicks have solved their center problem by acquiring Towns, but run the risk of “creating enough other problems that the cure could be worse than the disease.” “ In particular, the deal will impact the team’s wing strength and lead to major long-term cap challenges, Hollinger writes.
• James L. Edwards III of The Athletic isn’t 100% sure the trade will make the Knicks a better team either. Edwards acknowledges that Towns is the best player in the deal, but points out that he won’t address the team’s two biggest short-term needs: frontcourt defense and secondary playmaking.
• ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Chris Herring and Bobby Marks take a look at what the move means for both the Knicks and Timberwolves and explore the biggest remaining question marks surrounding the deal.