The Minnesota Timberwolves shockingly traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks on October 2, 2024 for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and Joan Beringer, who was just selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 draft. The two sides had to include the Hornets to make the math work, which wasn’t easy with training camp just getting underway. It was a bold move, but turned into a rare win-win trade in year one.
There were rough moments for both sides, but the Timberwolves and Knicks both reached the conference finals. KAT gave the Knicks a floor-spacing big man they desperately needed, and Randle shined in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Both teams looked wise at the end of the season, and Minnesota’s return just improved.
The Wolves need all the value contracts they can get as the franchise attempts to build an annual title contender around Anthony Edwards. This draft pick will help, but the rest of the return may not as Minnesota looks to reshape their roster.
Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns trade return finalized by latest draft pick
Charlotte became a necessary third team to make the finances work. The Knicks desperately needed a center with Mitchell Robinson out and paid handsomely for Towns. Here are the full details of the trade below.
- Timberwolves received: Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, Joan Beringer
- Knicks received: Karl-Anthony Towns, James Nnaji
- Hornets received: Charlie Brown, DaQuan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr., 52nd overall pick in 2025, 2026 2nd round pick, 2031 2nd round pick
This trade still has several moving parts. Can the Wolves re-sign and win with Julius Randle? How do they upgrade that spot if Randle is not the number two or three option Minnesota needs? DiVincenzo is a solid role player and their draft pick has potential, but that and one year of Randle is a light return for a five-time All-Star in his prime.
None of the draft picks headed to Charlotte are projected to hold significant value. They rented a bit of cap space for three second-rounders. The meat and potatoes of this trade were between the Knicks and Timberwolves.
New York has their own questions about Towns to answer. Minnesota fans know well the difficulties in building around him and finding ways to maximize the roster in the playoffs. The Knicks haven’t figured it out, but the Eastern Conference is wide open next season. It could be KAT’s time to shine as New York breaks through. Only time will tell.
The Minnesota Timberwolves had to move on from Karl-Anthony Towns to help get their finances in order. Their return is not looking outstanding, but things are far from over. If Joan Beringer becomes a star that would instantly flip things in Minnesota’s favor.
The Wolves got out of the Towns business. It was a needed step to build a championship roster around Anthony Edwards. Now, the pressure is on the front office to actually win it all. Minnesota has made the conference final two straight years and the best is still yet to come from Edwards. If the decision-makers maximize their roster, the Wolves could do it. Only time will tell how it all shakes out.