Timberwolves reportedly trading Karl-Anthony Towns to New York Knicks

The Minnesota Timberwolves are sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft pick in a franchise-altering deal, a person with knowledge of the deal said Friday evening.

The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the transaction, first reported by the Athletic, had not yet been completed.

Towns, a four-time All-Star entering his 10th season, has never hinted at any dissatisfaction with the team that drafted him first overall in 2015 despite several lean years leading up to last spring’s run to the Western Conference finals.

Active in the Twin Cities community, willing to defer the alpha role to young star Anthony Edwards, and unbothered by the move to a stretch power forward role after acquiring center Rudy Gobert two years ago, Towns seemed comfortable with this move didn’t see it coming. three days before the start of training camp. The benefit for the 7-footer is a return to his roots, growing up in New Jersey.

The Wolves get an All-Star power forward in Randle, plus a sharpshooter in DiVincenzo who is coming off a career-best season and a first-rounder to offset some of the draft picks they sent to Utah in the trade for Gobert.

Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has never been afraid of a bold move, as he proved by going big — both on and off the court — in the Gobert deal. This could be even bigger as the Wolves prepare for the challenge of moving two steps further into the playoffs, while the Western Conference’s top teams show no signs of letting up.