NBA Rumors: Karl-Anthony Towns Trade Between Knicks, Wolves Not Done But 'On Track'

The blockbuster trade between the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks is not official yet.

The move, which will send Karl-Anthony Towns to New York in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo was reported on Friday. However, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported that the trade is "still on track but not completed yet."

The trade also features a first-round pick heading to the Timberwolves via the Detroit Pistons while the Charlotte Hornets received DaQuan Jeffries and "draft compensation."

While the move is not yet official, the trade still should go through and will mostly just impact the media availabilities of the traded players prior to training camp.

The Knicks got significant improvement in the depth at center with the move. Incumbent starter Mitchell Robinson is set to miss multiple months to start the 2024-25 season and backup Isaiah Hartenstein departed in free agency.

Randle may have found some reps at center, but now the Knicks will plug in Towns and see him produce from the paint. He averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and three assists in 62 games for the Timberwolves in 2023-24 and is a four-time All-Star.

Randle should see a significant role in Minnesota and could form a strong core alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. He averaged 24 points, 9.2 rebounds and five assists in 46 games for the Knicks in 2023-24.

The trade should help both teams when it does become official and the players will eventually get a chance to discuss the move. However, it will just be a little bit longer until that gets settled.