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A16 SPORTS
Thursday 3 OcTOber 2024
Knicks add Karl-Anthony Towns from Timberwolves after
completing three-team trade with Hornets
By BRIAN MAHONEY league,” Knicks President
AP Basketball Writer Leon Rose said in a state-
NEW YORK (AP) — Karl- ment.
Anthony Towns joined the The Timberwolves received
Knicks on Wednesday after three-time All-Star Julius Ran-
the Minnesota Timberwolves dle and guard Donte DiVin-
sent their four-time All-Star to cenzo from the Knicks, while
New York in a three-team reacquiring Keita Bates-Diop
trade that also included the and also receiving a first-
Charlotte Hornets. round pick.
The deal was agreed to Fri- Towns arrived in Minneso-
day but took a few days to ta as the No. 1 pick in the
complete under the NBA’s 2015 draft and leaves what
complicated new trade appears to be a team on
rules, meaning Towns has the rise. The Timberwolves
not been able to practice reached the Western Con-
with the Knicks in their first ference finals last season,
two days of training camp in even though Towns was lim-
Charleston, South Carolina. ited by injuries to 62 games
The Knicks can’t wait to plug Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket over Dallas last season.
him into their center spot, be- Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) during the second half in Game 4 of the NBA basketball Now the 7-footer, who has
lieving his outside shooting Western Conference finals, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Dallas. averaged 22.9 points and
can be the key for a team Associated Press 10.8 rebounds while shoot-
that thinks it can contend for “He possesses a blend of bounding and defending size allows him to compete ing 39.8% from 3-point range,
a title this season. playmaking, shooting, re- that in combination with his at a level that is rare in this leaves behind an All-Star
pairing with Anthony Ed-
wards for one with Jalen
Brunson.
“Nine years ago, I arrived
in Minnesota as a young
man with a dream. Little did
I know that this place would
become my home, and its
people would become my
family. Your love, support,
and unwavering loyalty
have fueled my journey and
inspired me to be the best
player I could be,” Towns
wrote on X in what he called
a post to the Timberwolves
family.
“Thank you to my team-
mates, coaches, and the
entire Timberwolves organi-
zation for the countless op-
portunities and experiences.
I’ll cherish the friendships I’ve
made and the battles we’ve
fought together.”
He rejoins Tom Thibodeau,
one of his former coaches in
Minnesota, after the Knicks
gave up two key pieces to
get him.
Randle was the NBA’s Most
Improved Player in 2021,
when he led the Knicks to
their first playoff berth since
2013, and the Knicks went
to the postseason in three
of his five seasons in New
York after being one of the
league’s worst teams be-
fore he arrived. The Knicks
reached the Eastern Confer-
ence semifinals the last two
years, though Randle missed
the postseason last season
after surgery for a dislocated
shoulder.q
