Just two weeks ago, New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns was still a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, gearing up for the team’s best season in more than 20 years. Suddenly, a blockbuster trade sent the four-time All-Star to New York to complete their quest for a championship alongside superstar Jalen Brunson.
Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns still in shock over trade
Towns, a New Jersey native, is still adjusting to playing in New York and a lifestyle that is completely different from his first nine years in Minnesota.
“Sometimes I’m on social media myself, and on rare occasions I get Timberwolves updates on my phone, so I get confused by a lot of things,” Towns said. said. Via Zach Braziler of the New York Post.
Sunday will be a reunion day for Towns. The Knicks will face the Timberwolves in the third preseason game at Madison Square Garden. This game also marks the return of Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle, who were sent to Minnesota in the trade with Towns.
“Yeah, it’s going to be weird,” Towns added. “Sunday is going to be very strange.”
The Knicks needed a center that would lead to a trade for Towns.
The Knicks acquired Towns because they needed an addition at the center position. Mitchell Robinson will be out until 2025 as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery, and Isaiah Hartenstein signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency. This was New York’s all-out effort, and it shocked many people, including the players involved.
But from a basketball perspective, this acquisition significantly increases the Knicks’ chances of winning a title. Brunson and Towns have the potential to be the best pick-and-roll duo in the NBA, and New York currently has a 7-footer who is shooting nearly 40 percent from 3-point range in his career.
The Knicks got a glimpse of what their new All-Star duo will look like in their final preseason game against the Washington Wizards. Brunson had 23 points on 7-for-10 shooting, and Towns had a double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds.
Knicks are poised for success
In addition to Brunson and Towns, the Knicks have potentially the best defensive duo in the league in Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. Add the troublesome Josh Hart to this group, and the Knicks have perhaps the most balanced starting five in the league, using some of the best possible options to address every aspect of the game.
The trade shock still lingers for Towns, with many fans still reeling from the losses of DiVincenzo and Randle. But what Towns brings to the table could make him an instant fan favorite, and with sustained success, Towns could one day be etched into the prestigious Knicks’ history.
