By Shams Charania, Jon Krawczynski and Mark Puleo

The New York Knicks are nearing a trade for four-time All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, league sources say The Athletics. The Knicks will send the Minnesota Timberwolves a package centered around forward Julius Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round pick.

Towns, 28, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Timberwolves since being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. He averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 2023-24 and returned to the All-Star form after missing much of the 2022-23 season with a knee injury.

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— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) September 28, 2024

After winning 50 games last season, the most in a decade, the Knicks have taken significant steps to upgrade a roster built around 28-year-old point guard Jalen Brunson. Beyond Towns, the team acquired wing Mikal Bridges in an early summer trade with the Brooklyn Nets and re-signed forward OG Anunoby.

The Timberwolves are coming off a 56-win season that saw them advance to the Western Conference finals behind the surging play of Anthony Edwards. Randle, a 29-year-old three-time All-Star, replaces Towns in the frontcourt. DiVincenzo, who shot 40.1 percent from 3 last year, provides depth in the backcourt.

This story will be updated.

(Photo: David Berding/Getty Images)