Before the news about the Karl-Anthony Cities trading broke out on social media on Friday evening, Timber wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly visited Towns at his home in Minnesota to let him know he was being traded to the Knickssaid Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

As Krawczynski points out, the Wolves moving on from one of their highest-paid players didn’t come as a total surprise given the team’s high payroll costs in 2024-25 and beyond, but the timing of the move was “an absolute bolt of lightning. that no one saw coming” after the team spent the offseason praising the roster’s continuity and chemistry.

According to Krawczynski, Wolves were finding it increasingly difficult to imagine a scenario in which they could keep their existing squad intact beyond the 2024/25 season. Sources tell The Athletic that had Towns stayed in Minnesota long-term, it likely would have meant parting ways with the fan favorite Naz Reid And Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

Getting two rotation players – Julius Randle And Donte DiVincenzo – in exchange for one will open up more flexibility for the Wolves in the future, especially since Randle has the option to hit free agency in 2025. While it doesn’t sound like there are any immediate plans to turn around the newcomers – Krawczynski says Randle has done so: There are a lot of proponents” in Minnesota and the team has long had an interest in DiVincenzo. Their contracts, if necessary, should make it easier for them to move on the trade market than Towns with four years and $220 million left on his deal, Krawczynski noted.

Here’s more information on the city trade, which is still being finalized:

• The Knicks called the Timberwolves repeatedly over the years to express their interest in Towns, but those discussions never really evolved into full-fledged negotiations until now, per Fred Katz of The Athletic.
• While the “Villanova Knicks” will not be on the court this season – with DiVincenzo previously sent to Minnesota Mikal Bridges has played his first game as a Knick – the club is excited about how Towns will complement Bridges, Jalen BrunsonAnd OG Anunobyleague sources tell The Athletic. Katz adds that Towns’ plus-minus numbers have helped the Knicks roll the dice on him, as the Wolves have been consistently better with him on the court throughout his career.
• There is not expected to be any lingering tension between Towns and the former Wolves head coach Tom Thibodeau. Towns has said publicly that he harbors no ill feelings toward Thibodeau after their up-and-down time together in Minnesota from 2016 to 2019, and a source close to the Knicks’ head coach says he feels the same way, according to Katz. ‘If a man can play’ that source said: “Thibs wants him.”
• Although Towns and Randle have a combined seven All-Star titles, both stars come with some question marks regarding their injury histories, contract situations and defense. The Ringer’s Michael Pina takes into account the risk both parties are taking by taking this step and questions the timing of the agreement.
• In his analysis of the deal, The Athletic’s John Hollinger notes that the Knicks have addressed their center problem by acquiring Towns, but risk creating “enough other problems that the cure could be worse than the disease.” Specifically, the deal will hurt the team’s wing depth and create major long-term cap challenges, Hollinger wrote.
• The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III also isn’t 100% sure the trade will make the Knicks a better team. Edwards acknowledges that Towns is the best player in the deal, but points out that he won’t address the team’s two biggest needs in the short term: frontcourt defense and secondary playmaking.
• ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Chris Herring and Bobby Marks take a look at what the move means for both the Knicks and Timberwolves and explore the biggest remaining question marks regarding the deal.