Knicks trading Julius Randle to Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns in reported three-team deal

The Knicks have made a blockbuster deal on Friday that will bring Karl-Anthony Towns to Madison Square Garden.

According to SNY’s Ian Begley, New York is sending All-Star forward Julius Randle to the Timberwolves. The Athletic is reporting Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round pick via Detroit are also heading to Minnesota as part of a three-team trade. While the Knicks are reportedly sending salary, including DaQuan Jeffries, and draft compensation to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Knicks are getting a four-time All-Star in Towns, who is considered one of the best centers/forwards in the NBA. The 7-foot-tall Towns averaged 21.8 points on 50 percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists across 62 games this past season for the upstart Timberwolves.

As for Randle, dealing the three-time All-Star ahead of training camp is a seismic move for New York.

The Knicks engaged with several teams – including the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat – on potential Randle trades earlier in the offseason, per SNY sources.

The 6-9 forward has developed into an All-NBA player in New York, earning all-league honors in two of the past five seasons and winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in 2020-21.

Randle played in just 46 games this past season due to a shoulder injury he suffered in January against the Heat that eventually required surgery. But when he was on the court, he provided most of New York’s scoring.

Randle averaged 24.0 points on 47 percent shooting, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

DiVincenzo played just one season with the Knicks after signing in free agency but quickly became one of the more beloved players on the team.

He started the season on the bench, but his play gave him more and more minutes. And when the Knicks traded for OG Anunoby, DiVincenzo became a fixture in the starting five. In 81 games (3 starts), DiVincenzo averaged 15.5 points on 44 percent shooting but was a career-best 40 percent three-point shooter.

He also broke the Knicks’ single-season mark for three-pointers made.

This deal is the second massive trade for the Knicks this offseason, after acquiring Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn.