Leaving dinner last night I check my phone to a SHAMS bomb saying the New York Knicks have traded Julius Randle, Donte Divencenzo and a pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns. I was so shook by this notification my waitress asked if everything was all right judging by the look on my face. I then had to go to a bar with my girlfriend to go on a rant about how much Randle has done for this city and I can’t believe they traded him.
Emotions aside now, Leon Rose continues to turn the Knicks into legitimate NBA Championship contenders by taking big swings to build around the Knicks superstar, Jalen Brunson. Already trading for Mikal Bridges this offseason, the Knicks are building the perfect roster to match up with the current NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics. Let’s break down the trade.
KAT is the best three point shooting big man of all time. (Watch the game against the Hornets with Eric Collins commentating if you do not believe me) A career 40% three point shooter and former three point contest champion, KAT has the ability to space the floor like no other 7 footer. Towns also has the ability to play the 4 or the 5 without giving up a true size advantage. Playing alongside Rudy Gobert, Towns has been able to learn how to play with a non spacing center. Towns is also a better defender than the common fan gives him credit for. In the playoff series against the Nuggets, Towns got put on Jokic and did the best job I’ve seen a single defender do on the three time MVP and this was a major factor the Wolves took down the defending Champs. With Thibs being the coach for the second time in his career, I expect KAT to be tougher this time around. The one thing that really bothered me with Towns is how he constantly is in foul trouble picking up silly fouls in the backcourt. I expect this to be under control this season.
Julius Randle was the anchor of the renaissance of New York basketball. Coming to the Knicks in 2019 when they “lost out” on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, Randle brought back winning basketball to New York. Taking a team with Elfird Payton as the starting point guard to home court advantage in the NBA playoffs is crazy as it is. Although sporadic at times, Randle was a true star in New York making multiple all NBA teams and All-Star games. I wish nothing but the best for Julius. I know he got a lot of shit from the fans but he was a model star for New York. Giving back to the community, supporting the other teams and being a dog on the court. His F You attitude on the court embodied the city. However, a team of Brunson and Randle does not with a title. Both lefties need the ball in their hands and it is clear that Brunson is the star on the roster.
The Knicks were able to turn Donte Divencenzo from a solid rotational piece to a borderline star last season. Setting the Knicks franchise record for threes made, Donte Inferno had the Garden rocking last year. Understandably, Donte was allegedly not thrilled with the role reduction he was about to receive after the Knicks traded for Mikal Bridges. Going from being the second best player in a playoff series to the 7th man can’t feel great and the Knicks were able to cash in on his career year before he became disgruntled. The Big RAGU had some of the biggest moments in Knicks recent history like the shot against Philly in the first round.
For the Timberwolves I don’t quite understand this move for them. After coming off one of, if not, the best season in franchise history, the Wolves move on from the first overall pick in the 2015 draft. KAT and Anthony Edwards seemed to have great chemistry and the Wolves were a few games away from the NBA Finals last year. To have such a big switch up is crazy to me and I don’t love the idea of Edwards, Gobert, and Randle. Not enough spacing for ANT and the paint being too clogged up. Divo should really help the Wolves out but it will be interesting to see how this trade shakes out in Minnesota. To close it out, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more minor moves from the Knicks before the season starts. In Leon we trust, let’s go win a ring.
JakesTakes 
Leave a comment