Why the Timberwolves HAD to Trade Karl-Anthony Towns…
The Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks shocked the world a few days ago when Karl-Anthony Towns was traded to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte Divincenzo, and a first round pick from the Detroit Pistons. It’s a move that many argue the Knicks are winners of, but the Timberwolves have been made infinitely more interesting in the wake of the deal as well. Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Mike Conley, and Naz Reid will be joined in pursuit of an NBA Finals berth by Julius Randle and Donte Divincenzo, but it won’t be easy. The Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and many other teams present imposing threats while questions about the fit of the new Timberwolves pieces loom. It may lead to some regression this season, but in the long run, it’s a move that will help them remain financially flexible in the face of the new CBA which presents massive obstacles to team building in the modern NBA. Ultimately, the Wolves may have had to trade KAT, but it may be what brings them tumbling down. Let’s talk about it.
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#NBA #MinnesotaTimberwolves #karlanthonytowns
0:00 – Intro
0:48 – Will Julius Randle and Donte Divincenzo Help?
3:12 – The CBA Forced This Trade
6:04 – They’re Focused on the Future
8:42 – The Risk of Losing Anthony Edwards
10:47 – The NBA is About to Be More Chaotic Than Ever
12:52 – Outro
38 Comments
First
no ways this happened, what KAT not enjoying his time with the wolves?
Not first, but I made it. Randle doesn't have any market so I think he should pick up his option and get traded to Houston the Jazz or even the wizard
talk bout the pistons next
They didn't have to make the trade. They could always resign their guys. They just didn't want to pay them.
Maybe, hear me out… don’t pay players so much 😂😂
I dont want to hear about theres no loyal players in the nba All this because they overpaying gobert this gonna be bad for the wolves
I 100% understand the fit concern with Randle and Gobert. And I wonder if he and that 1st they acquired stick around past the trade deadline. But I imagine this was the best deal for KAT they could get-other teams likely were just as nervous about his contract as Minnesota was. The Knicks probably didn't mind as much since Brunson gave them a huge discount.
As not a Wolves fan, I am hoping the Wolves flip Randle for two solid players. DiVincenzo & two solids players, is a good turn around for Kat.
Reed proved he is starting level player
As a wolves fan after the way kat pissed down his leg vs dallas I was ready for him to be traded . Glad to see donte on the squad . Randle likely just a rental . The spacing argument is so overrated if it gets bad wolves will just play naz or let randle play with the bench to limit the amount of time him & ant play
Lol extremely unlikely the wolves are anymore then a few games worse . Who the hell do yall think Kat is 😂😂 funny how everyone talked about kat like he was nothing until he got traded to the Knicks . Now he's randomly elite like he hasn't no showed in half of his career playoff games
what if they're targeting KD cause they know he's always requesting a trade lol
Cone kat shot 35% from three these playoffs and trust me was a huge reason our offense sucked due to him a) choking b) being soft and not being able to score on deman. Trust we are a better team with randle and donte
we gone straight 💯gotta real 4 npw in randle can create his own shot and create for others, puts a lotta pressure on the rim,and donte is one of the best 3&D players in the nba we got deeper and we can definitely capitalize off the run last year🐺💯
Timberwolves sign nadir hifi
People just say anything when they speak on the Timberwolves I know when they are wrong kat missed 50 something games and we went to the playoffs now we have more help for aunt and we won the draft
FINALLY someone.said something that makes ense about this bad trade.
Luka in 2022. Was 22/23 years old. Mavs went to the Western Conference finals and lost in 5. Lost Brunson for nothing, sold the depth for Kyrie during the 2023 season. They missed the playoffs altogether. Now Mavs just came off a final appearance. Ant will probably be fine. Better the Wolves take a step back now and have flexibility then be caught in a bad situation later and have no options.
Tim Connolly, even in his time with Denver, has always been obsessed with Rudy Gobert, so the moment he traded for him was the moment KAT became expendable. This is bad for Minnesota and I think puts them firmly in 2nd/3rd in the division, and maybe battling for the 4/5 spot in the west.
I'll tell you exactly who won the Wolves/Knicks trade… content creators.
So confused what was the record for the wolves when town was out and who was the top leader in offensive fouls last season….
I do not for the life of me understand how so many people think the Wolves lost this trade. KAT and Gobert didn't work out as well as hoped and instead of a 5 that isn't the greatest at 4, you have an allstar caliber 4 playing the 4. He can still hit 3s and he can take a large offensive role taking heat off of Ant. KAT gave you 18 pts a game in the post season and wasn't worth a max deal as an out of position playoff dropper.
Knicka might make championship this year
I think people are very overestimating the "playoff chocker" or "soft" narrative against KAT.
KAT has not been playing very well in the playoff. He averages 19 points per game with 58% true shooting. This is better than an average NBA player, but it is not very good for a franchise player.
However, the sample size is very small, and the players in the losing team always tend to record worst stats than winning team. KAT playoff performance is not really that concerning, given how bad Timberwolves has been historically.
KAT being "soft" is entirely a nonsense delusion. KAT is more of a finesse compared to say Giannis, but this is just a different of play style. It is like calling Steph "soft" because derick rose players a more physical game. Players just have different play style. Having a more finesse play style doesn't make a player worse, if his advanced stats are good.
Jimmy Butler story is also bullshit. Jimmy was the one who first skipped three days of practice; when he showed up, he only won a 8 minutes practice session; then leave without doing the rest of practice and went on to a show to sh*ttalk his teammates. KAT is not soft. He is just not an obnoxious immature assholes like those who can't even control their emotions/anger. Whatever KAT's softness is, it doesn't make him and his team less likely to win.
If you still think KAT is soft, please define exactly what you mean by "soft" and then argue how it impacts winning basketball. (beyond a naive "he is not competitive. he doesn't care about winning much" that can be said regardless if it right or wrong)
Rare win win trade imo
Fun fact: Chris Finch the hc of the wolves was the associate hc of the 2019 Pelicans when Randle was playing for the Pelicans
Split the salary evenly between all the players on the roster. Problems solved!
Wolves future was saved by that trade. I think this trade was good for both teams.
Darn cba. I think we have to change the definition of supersteam cuz some teams just wouldn’t be possible if the cba always existed. Were moving into a new era
What do yall think about it
Vegas odds went from 11-1 to 10-1 after the trade. Hollingers model gave them three more wins after the trade. What they lose in spacing they gain in play making which was the biggest problem in the wcf and Randle still gets guarded at the three.
It can work if they give naz big minutes. He needs to be a starter. Gobert needs to be traded next
Good sound video until you decided to parrot a logical fallacy as an argument against the trade. Yeah they might never get back to the wcf. THATS TRUE REGARDLESS. They had the biggest game7 comeback in history last year just to make it there. The west is improving. That very likely could have been the ceiling for that team. It’s one thing to think they may be worse, even tho Vegas and hollinger disagree, but to make some claim that ticking the next five years of ant for this next year might make ant leave IS THE STUPIDEST THING IVE EVER HEARD. That’s literally why they made the move. What’s more likely and likely to get ant to leave? Having kat make top 5 money until he’s 32 while he’s played less then 70%of the games the last four years and has major playoff flaws OR move on and try to get Durant on the cheap or lebron or some other thing when Rudy naz naw and Randle come off the books and you have max cap space. Bro use your brain.
Side note: it’s really over blown. Randle is a better playmaker and that’s was hurt in the wcf and dd gives us the best bench in the league. We almost definitely matchup best with everyone in the west but Denver. Kat although good has led the league offensive fouls each of the last four years, has had some real low moments in the playoffs people have forgotten somehow and although he shoots well only ever shoots 6 a game even after years of them trying to get him to take more.
We are still experiencing the damage that the Wolves have done to the player market around the league by doing that insane Gobert trade 2 years ago.
After all that? 💅
I actually called this trade two months ago. Well almost. I had KAT for Randle straight up because I didn't know if their salaries matched. I think both teams and players benefit from this trade.
The thing no one is mentioning is that Randle is a bully ball player who is recovering from a shoulder surgery. He is also a stubborn player who is playing for a new contract. Expect him to force it a ton this year. And honestly, I love the guy. He came to NY when no one would. I'll miss him.
Should have traded RUDY instead. He makes almost as much as KAT.
Anyone who says its a win win or lose lose trade is wrong. Getting Julius foolius Randle is the losing move if they keep him