[11월호] Karl-Anthony Towns trade, who will laugh?

Karl-Anthony Towns was traded. This is the first time in 9 years since debut. It’s a big deal in Minnesota and New York. A blockbuster trade between two powerhouses who ranked in the top three of both conferences last season. Of course, it is expected to have a big impact on the outlook for the new season. Let’s take a look at the story surrounding the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.

*This article was written in mid-October and published in the November 2024 issue of Rookie.

New York’s Position: Center Thirst

New York was in dire need of a center. It felt like the center needed to be strengthened somehow.

Let’s take a look at New York’s situation right before the trade. Isaiah Hartenstein, the team’s main big man, became a free agent and left the team. Filling Hartenstein’s gap is also a concern, and even Mitchell Robinson underwent ankle surgery. For the time being, the game had to be played without the starting big man on the roster.

It was not a time to be happy about recruiting Michal Bridges and forming ‘Nova Knicks’. In the end, New York’s front team, including President Leon Rose, made a decision. It fit the needs of Minnesota, which wanted to secure salary cap liquidity. This is the background to the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.

To recruit Towns, New York gave up six players, one first-round pick, two second-round picks, and $7.2 million in cash. A deal was agreed upon with Minnesota first, and the trade was completed as a triangular deal as Charlotte was included in the salary adjustment process.

Among the players sent out by New York, the key players were Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

First of all, Randle was in a position to declare free agency through opt-out next summer, but extension contract negotiations with New York were sluggish. In addition, Randle’s position was narrowed last season as Brunson became the best guard in the East.

Randle himself also expressed his determination to adapt well to the same team situation. But New York thought differently. New York, which was in dire need of center reinforcement, chose to use Randle to recruit another big man rather than keeping him. That’s how Randall’s trip to New York ended after five years.

In fact, from New York’s perspective, it would be more disappointing that DiVincenzo left rather than Randle.

Starting with the 2022-2023 season spent in Golden State, DiVincenzo has emerged as one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. Last season, he played in 81 games and showed great performance, making 3.5 3-point shots and recording a 3-point success rate of 40.1%. It was very cheap at about $36 million over the next three years, including the remaining contract.

From New York’s perspective, it would have been best to keep DiVincenzo if possible. However, in a situation where Towns had to be recruited, it was nearly impossible to make a deal with Randle and picks alone. Coincidentally, Minnesota needed reinforcement of 3&D resources in defense and shooting due to Kyle Anderson’s departure. Eventually, the trade reached an agreement with DiVincenzo being included in the trade.

With this trade, New York built a strong starting lineup consisting of Jaylen Brunson, Michal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl Anthony Towns. New York, which ranked second in the East last season, quickly became a contender for East hegemony this season.

First of all, there is no doubt about Towns’ skills. In the nine seasons since his debut, he has been an All-Star four times and selected to the All-NBA team twice. In particular, he is certain about shooting, with a career 3-point shot success rate of 1.7 and a 3-point success rate of close to 39.8% until last season. Among the big men of all time, he is one of the few. He is likely to coexist much more effectively with existing New York players than with Randle.

The key is depth. With this trade, New York’s bench was drastically weakened. No matter how well-known Thibodeau is for being a starter, New York’s current bench depth is too shallow. Resources like Myles McBride and Jericho Sims need to be more active. Dividing the lineup between strong starting players would also be a way to compensate for the bench issue.

Minnesota: Onerous luxury tax

Since the Rudy Gobert trade acquisition in 2022, Minnesota has been challenging for the championship with the trio of Anthony Edwards, Karl Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert at the center. The first season did not meet expectations, and last season, they achieved the feat of advancing to the West finals for the first time in 20 years.

This offseason, Minnesota kept most of its key players intact and was awaiting the start of the season without much change. Aside from the departure of Kyle Anderson and the addition of Joe Ingles, the roster was virtually identical.

But Minnesota chose a big change. Towns, who is known to have never requested a trade, was traded after 9 years. The shock was even greater because Towns had been a franchise star who had only played in Minnesota since 2015.

There are two main benefits Minnesota gained from this trade.

The first is the reinforcement of the wing line. As mentioned above, Minnesota needed more 3&D resources. And in fact, Donte DiVincenzo was a wing resource that Minnesota had been interested in before.

At that time, New York, which owned DiVincenzo, proposed a trade to Minnesota, and through this trade, Minnesota was able to strengthen its wing line by recruiting DiVincenzo. All-Defensive team defender Jaden McDaniels, the league’s best 3-point shooter and outstanding defender DiVincenzo, and veteran tall handler Joe Ingles. Minnesota’s wing line has now reached a level where it is second to none by any team.

Another benefit is a reduction in luxury tax. It is reported that this trade saved Minnesota a total of $26.5 million in salary and luxury tax.

It was an undesirable trade for Minnesota, whose team salary exceeded $200 million due to the high salaries of Edwards, Towns, and Gobert. In the end, Minnesota succeeded in reducing the team salary to $203.52 million. Although it is still expected to pay $95.96 million in luxury tax, it is fortunate that spending has been reduced at least a little.

Towns’ departure is quite painful, but fortunately Minnesota has a replacement resource in Naz Reed. Like Towns, Reed is a big man with good shooting ability who sits between the big man and the forward. When shooting power is needed, Reed should be actively utilized, and when a handler is needed, Randle should be used more.

If Randle, who is eligible to opt out next summer, leaves the team as a free agent, Minnesota could wipe more than $30 million off the books in an instant. Of course, Randle’s absence will soon lead to Reed’s position change and a weakening of the bench, but this can be compensated for in other ways. In any case, Minnesota benefited significantly from this trade in that it secured salary cap liquidity and reduced the luxury tax even slightly.

Could it be a win-win?

Another characteristic of this trade is that both Minnesota and New York are at the top of both conferences and are teams that want to win the championship in the new season.

Ultimately, for the Karl-Anthony Towns trade to be a win-win, both teams must achieve meaningful results in the regular season and playoffs.

There are plenty of possibilities. Since the start of the season, Minnesota has had issues with Randle’s role, but this can be resolved by having other teammates give up the ball to some extent. For New York, Karl-Anthony Towns is gradually adapting to his role, going 20-15 in the opening two games.

In fact, the match between the two teams in the preseason was as intense as the playoffs. DiVincenzo made headlines when he got into a war of words with New York coach Rick Brunson, the father of former teammate Jaylen Brunson, during the game.

If Minnesota and New York meet in the finals, it will really attract a lot of attention. Towns, Randle, and DiVincenzo will all face former teammates and their former teams.

Minnesota is a team that has yet to win a championship since its founding in 1989. New York has also failed to win the championship for over 50 years since winning the championship in 1973. I don’t know which team it will be, but there’s a good chance that anyone will smile brightly.

Photo = Provided by Reuters/News 1

**How does Jeanne’s analysis of the team dynamics in New York⁣ align with the perspectives ⁣expressed by⁤ the guests ⁣regarding Towns and Brunson’s on-court chemistry?**

Here’s an interview outline divided into thematic sections⁤ with open-ended questions focused onJeanne’s⁣ article:

**Introduction:**

* **Host:** Welcome⁢ to the show! Today, we’re diving deep into the blockbuster trade that shook the NBA: Karl-Anthony Towns moving from Minnesota to New York. To help us unpack ⁤this massive deal, we have ‍two experts joining us, [Guest 1 Name and Credentials] and [Guest 2 Name and Credentials]. Welcome to both of you.

**Section 1: Examining the Need for Change**

* **Host:** Before we delve​ into the trade details,​ let’s understand the context. [Guest 1], New York was clearly desperate for a center. In your view, was this a move borne ​out of necessity, or was there a larger strategic vision at play?

* **Host:** [Guest 2], Minnesota, on the other hand, had​ a core with Towns, Edwards, and Gobert.⁢ What might have driven them to​ make such a significant ‍change? Was it purely ⁢financial, or were there other basketball-related factors?

**Section 2:‌ Analyzing⁣ the Trade Assets**

* **Host:** This trade involved​ multiple players and draft picks. [Guest 1], what are your thoughts on ⁤the value ⁢New York gave up for Towns? Was it ‍a fair⁣ price, given his caliber?

* **Host:** [Guest 2], DiVincenzo seems like a valuable piece for Minnesota. ‌How does he fit⁢ into their roster and⁤ address their specific needs?

**Section 3: Impact‍ on Team Dynamics**

* **Host:** Both teams have undergone major roster shifts. [Guest 1], how do you ⁣see this ⁤trade impacting New‌ York’s chemistry‌ and on-court ⁣dynamics? Do you⁢ think Towns and Brunson will thrive alongside each​ other?

* **Host:** [Guest 2], how might Randle’s role in Minnesota evolve?

**Section 4:⁤ Long-Term Implications**

* **Host:** This trade has significant implications for both franchises moving forward. ⁢ [Guest 1], from a championship⁣ perspective, where do ⁢you see New York fitting in the Eastern Conference landscape?

* **Host:** [Guest 2], Minnesota has⁤ gained valuable⁢ salary cap space. How could they utilize this flexibility in future trades or free agency?

* **Host:** Do you see this trade‍ as ⁣a win-win for both teams,‌ or ‍will⁢ one side‌ ultimately benefit⁣ more?

**Section 5: The Human Element**

* **Host:** let’s touch on the human ⁣aspect of this trade. The players involved have made profound impacts on their previous teams. ⁣ [Guest 1], how do you think ​Towns, Randle, and DiVincenzo will adjust to their new⁢ environments?

* **Host:** [Guest 2], we saw some tension ⁢during the preseason game. How might previous relationships and rivalries factor into this new dynamic when these teams face each other?

**Closing**

* **Host:** This ⁢has been an insightful discussion! Thank ​you both for⁣ sharing your perspectives on this complex and fascinating trade. For our listeners, what are‌ your thoughts on the Karl-Anthony Towns trade? Let us know in the comments below.