The Minnesota Timberwolves kicked off their 2024 preseason schedule on Friday night. And for the first time in nearly a decade, they did so without 2015 No. 1 overall pick, Karl-Anthony Towns.
After months of rumors and speculation, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connell dealt the four-time All-Star in shocking fashion last week. Despite dealing the best player in the deal, executives around the NBA reportedly believe the Timberwolves came out as the real winners in last week’s KAT trade.
The blockbuster three-time deal sent Towns to his hometown New York Knicks. In exchange, Minnesota received All-Star big man, Julius Randle, three-and-D specialist Donte DiVincenzo, and a future protected first-round pick.
Since the trade was consummated, many local and national pundits have wondered out loud how exactly Randle fits into the Wolves’ future. Meanwhile, national talking-heads have already dubbed Karl-Anthony Towns as the Knicks’ missing piece.
That’s why one of the league’s top insiders was surprised after speaking with executives around the NBA. Apparently, most of them do not believe the Knicks won this trade. How?
During a recent appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Brian Windhorst revealed that many of the league executives he spoke to actually believe the Minnesota Timberwolves won last week’s blockbuster deal.
“I was kind of surprised … at how many executives I talked to who felt like the Timberwolves won this trade.” 👀
—@WindhorstESPN on how Julius Randle and Donte Divencenzo will fit with Anthony Edwards and the Wolves 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gxKfF3VgCY
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 3, 2024
“I was kind of surprised over the last week at how many executives I talked to who felt like the Timberwolves won this trade,” Windhorst said. “Which is not something you would expect to hear. When most people agree the best player in the trade went to the Knicks. But I think what they are reacting to is the way the Wolves were able to rebalance their roster in this trade.
“Get Julius Randle. Get DiVincenzo — who helps them off the bench. And also reduce their long-term payroll… I think a lot of people feel the Wolves improved themselves short, and medium-term in this deal.”
Brian Windhorst – NBA Today (ESPN)
Related: NBA Insider Reveals Even More Details On Why Minnesota Timberwolves Traded KAT
Even without KAT, Minnesota has a ton of young frontcourt talent already on roster. Their talent pool includes 2023-24 6th Man of the Year, Naz Reid, who just turned 25 y/o. That’s before you get down the depth chart to Luka Garza and Josh Minott. Both youngsters had huge 2024 preseason debuts on Friday.
It also allowed the Wolves to get out from under Towns’ massive $220 million contract. No matter how long the Wolves keep Randle around, the swap allowed cap flexibility they did not have before.
Related: Where do the Minnesota Timberwolves land in the latest preseason NBA power rankings?
The trade was a bold decision for Tim Connelly and new Wolves general manager Matt Floyd. It seems, however, that their colleagues see the genius in what they were doing. At least according to one top NBA insider, the pair of Minnesota Timberwolves executives are getting a big thumbs up.
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