Proof that offseason moves may not yet be over can be seen from just last year. It wasn’t until October 2, when the Timberwolves decided to trade franchise stalwart Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks in a deal that netted them Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a 2025 first round pick (Joan Beringer).
For much of the first half of the 2024-25 season, many saw the Knicks as the winners of the trade. Towns became the first NYK starting center in the All-Star Game since Patrick Ewing. Meanwhile, Minnesota owned just a 22-21 record through 43 outings. It wasn’t as smooth a transition to a new team for Randle and DiVincenzo as it was for Towns.
Of course, as the season went along, more people warmed up to the idea that perhaps the Wolves didn’t lose the trade. Minnesota began playing much-improved, and both teams were able to reach the conference finals. It won’t take long for the team to further prove that their losing of the trade is a myth.
Wolves get to face Knicks early in the season
Every year when the schedule comes out, there are dates on it that fans circle for their favorite team. Wolves fans undoubtedly can’t wait to see their squad meet up with the Thunder and Nuggets, as well as other Western Conference powerhouses. In the other conference though, the Knicks are the team that should most pique the fans’ interest (second may be the Hawks due to Nickeil Alexander-Walker now being on their roster).
Now it is known that the Timberwolves will be first meeting up with the Knicks on November 5. The game will be taking place in Madison Square Garden, and it will be DiVincenzo’s first regular season game back there as he missed last season’s contest due to a toe injury.
The Wolves have a chance to prove early this narrative wrong
Now the outcome of one game won’t necessarily decide who is the winner of the trade. That may not be decided until years from now, or when/if one of the two teams is able to win it all. These are two long-suffering fanbases with the Knicks last winning a title in 1973, and the Timberwolves having never even reached the NBA finals.
Still, fan bragging rights will be on the line come as the Wolves/Knicks trade is still continuously talked about. A win for Minnesota would further show that the pre-existing narrative that the Knicks won the deal may be the incorrect one.