We’re officially a month away from the season opener, and the New York Knicks are not done making moves. On Friday, they agreed with the Minnesota Timberwolves that they would land Karl-Anthony Towns. This was a move that no one saw coming, but New York took that risk. This is the fourth significant move that they have pulled off this offseason. The other notable moves include the trade for Mikal Bridges resigning both Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. This type of deal puts them closer to where they want to be: a championship-caliber team.
The Trade Haul
Indeed, the deal came at a considerable price. To acquire the superstar that they had been searching for years, they would have to surrender two huge impact players. The Knicks would send the Timberwolves Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo along with a first-round pick via the Detroit Pistons. What made this deal so tough was having to give up DiVencenzo. He had a great year with New York last season while coming off the bench. Last year, he set a record for most 3-pointer field goals. This will indeed sting Knicks fans for a while now.
Then there is Julius Randle. Unfortunately, things just couldn’t come his way. He was about to be ready for the season opener after recovering from his season-ending injury. Last year, he dislocated his right shoulder, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. The injury came on Jan. 27 in a win against the Miami Heat. He and the team expressed some optimism that he may be able to delay his surgery in hopes of playing in the playoffs. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. He went under season-ending surgery back in April.
Why This Move Helps The Knicks
New York was in search of a new center position player. They might just have found their answer. Ever since they lost free agent Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder, their center position was their weakest area of need on the team. Another important thing to note Mitchell Robinson is also hurt. Towns is that guy who can refill that position. But there’s more he can do to help the team.
Towns is a decent shooter from the center position. This is something that we have not seen coming from that position. In most cases, players who play in that position are mostly seen as defensive players while grabbing rebounds as well. Not to mention, Towns is also a great pick-and-roll finisher. This is something that can flow well with the Knicks offense.
Why This Move Won’t Help The Knicks
Towns coming to New York bring some risks as well. Similar to OG Anunoby, he does have an injury. There are other reasons why this move can’t possibly work at all. Another reason is the environment. The pressure is different when it comes to playing in a big-market environment like New York. Some stars have come to New York but have failed to strive in the environment. Adjusting to the team’s identity and chemistry may present a challenge for a player like Towns.
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