The Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to trade four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, sources told The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
New York is reportedly sending three-time All-Star forward Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota, along with a future first-round pick belonging to the Detroit Pistons.
The Knicks are also sending Keita Bates-Diop to the Timberwolves, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski.
The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly joining the deal as a third team, receiving guard DaQuan Jeffries as well as draft compensation.
Towns, 28, joins former Brooklyn Nets wing Mikal Bridges as another significant offseason reinforcement for the Knicks. The former first overall pick averaged 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 39.8% throughout his nine-year career in Minnesota.
A two-time All-NBA selection, Towns will reunite in New York with his former head coach Tom Thibodeau. The two were together for Thibodeau’s two-and-a-half seasons in charge in Minnesota from 2016-18, during which the franchise snapped a 13-year playoff drought.
Despite the familiarity with Thibodeau, Towns didn’t request to be traded, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, who adds that the big man’s camp was “stunned” by the news.
Randle scored 24 points per game with 9.2 rebounds and five assists in his fifth season with the Knicks since joining the franchise as a free agent in 2019. After earning $28.9 million in 2024-25, he can elect to become a free agent next summer by turning down a $30.9-million player option for 2025-26.
He was the second-longest-tenured member of the Knicks’ roster behind center Mitchell Robinson.
A career-high 40.1% 3-point shooter last season, the 27-year-old DiVincenzo provides Minnesota with added depth behind expected starter Anthony Edwards, who likely assumes a larger role as the T-Wolves’ franchise star following Towns’ departure.
