The Minnesota Timberwolves have traded star center Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. 

ANALYSIS: The full trade details include a third team in Charlotte, and they will be receiving DaQuan Jeffries and draft compensation from New York. Because of the salary cap issues, both the Knicks and the Wolves cannot take more salary than they are able to give out, so this would still be a developing deal with more teams expected to follow to facilitate this trade. 

Nevertheless, this trade for the Timberwolves comes off as a shock following their Western Conference Finals appearance last season. KAT was one of the vital pieces in that team’s run, being the main defender of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic as they took out the defending champs in the first round. 

The Knicks will get the best player here in Towns, who seamlessly fits their scheme around Jalen Brunson. New York will ship out a disgruntled Randle who has lost his place in their schemes and will go to a new environment in Minnesota or somewhere else.