One bold theory explains why Timberwolves agreed to KAT trade

As we look back on the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, things probably make more sense now than they did in the hectic minutes and hours after it was announced the Minnesota Timberwolves' former franchise star would be leaving for good. Towns' contract that kicks in this coming season is absolutely massive, and the team simply had to shift some pieces around to keep this team a top-tier contender in the long-term.

The result was swapping out KAT for Julius Randle and getting Donte DiVincenzo in the process. Minnesota got rid of some big salary while still remaining a contender in the short term, and creating flexibility for the future. Now, Julius Randle has widely been viewed as the centerpiece of this deal for the Timberwolves. He was named to an All-NBA team in two of the last four seasons, and his inside presence is absolutely a game-changer.

But the fact remains that he is in the final year of his contract, and could opt to leave Minnesota next summer. That is at least part of the reason why The Athletic's Britt Robson believes that Donte DiVincenzo was actually the real reason the Timberwolves agree to trade Towns in the first place.

Robson: Donte DiVincenzo was real reason for the trade

It is certainly a bold take, but one that Robson backs up in a recent appearance on The Dane Moore NBA Podcast. "[DiVincenzo is] the reason for the trade, in my opinion," he said. "The availability of DiVincenzo and the emergence of Naz (Reid) are the two biggest reasons why this trade happened."

In Britt's mind, the prospect of getting Donte on this roster while being able to retain Naz long term were the primary motivators for Tim Connelly and the front office to agree to a deal with the Knicks. It makes sense, given KAT's contract situation and the opportunity to get an impact player like DiVincenzo while Reid continues to elevate his game as well.

"DiVincenzo has been with the Bucks, the Warriors and the Knicks, and has kind of had different roles with all of them," said Robson. "But also kind of similar things in which he is, not a 'glue guy' so much as a 'pecan spice' in the mix. Somebody who provides energy, who provides toughness, and provides outside shooting."

Robson also pointed out that Chris Finch has been begging for guys to cut more instead of just standing around waiting for the ball to come to them, and noted that Donte could help set a positive example in that department as well. All in all, there is a lot of logic in the Timberwolves' front office seeing DiVincenzo as the centerpiece of this deal, and that should excite fans about his game even more.