Karl-Anthony Towns Traded to New York (Official Discussion Thread)

[Klomp]

Um...is this serious? We just traded one of the most efficient offensive players in NBA *history* and you don't think our offense is going to suffer? Wow. Just...wow.

Randle is very inefficient and a broomstick on defense. DD is a backup guard. He is nowhere near the offensive player KAT is.

This was a very, very bad trade for the Wolves. We gave up a franchise player for a one year rental, a backup SG and a fake first round pick that will never convey.

Has the Vikings offense suffered without one of the most efficient QBs in NFL history?

(I love that this question is going to a Falcons fan haha, perfect)

[coachEmily]

My wife said the same thing. We are both in shock over this idiotic trade. If they had kept KAT for just one more year I honestly feel this team wins a championship. Now it is first round and out with some of the worst, if not the worst, spacing in the NBA.

But losing KAT won't hurt our defense. And the Knicks fans said they're worried because Randle gave them grit.
So our defense might be better with Randle, plus we've got DiV and he can defend well.
At worst i think our defense will be the same as last season, and our offense will definitely be better with DiV!
Even if we assume McDaniels and Reid won't improve (but they probably will improve!) i still think we've got a great chance at finishing #1 in the West.
And we've still got Gobert and Reid to defend Jokic, and we can keep them on the court for the whole time Jokic is on the court!

Um...is this serious? We just traded one of the most efficient offensive players in NBA *history* and you don't think our offense is going to suffer? Wow. Just...wow.

Randle is very inefficient and a broomstick on defense. DD is a backup guard. He is nowhere near the offensive player KAT is.

This was a very, very bad trade for the Wolves. We gave up a franchise player for a one year rental, a backup SG and a fake first round pick that will never convey.

The Knicks fans are devastated at losing DiV, and they know he's trending to 20+ppg and good defense too (he scored 19.3ppg after the all-star break), so basically Klay Thompson or slightly less; and he's got the quickest release in the NBA for a 40% trey-shooter!
So DiV makes up for the shooting lost from KAT, and Randle is a better post-up scorer than KAT.
And Randle has a reputation for giving the Knicks grit, while KAT is known for soft defense, so i don't see how our defense will suffer.
You could say we lost height, but Gobert is huge, and Naz and Randle are both more athletic and more power than KAT.

[Sothron]

But losing KAT won't hurt our defense. And the Knicks fans said they're worried because Randle gave them grit.
So our defense might be better with Randle, plus we've got DiV and he can defend well.
At worst i think our defense will be the same as last season, and our offense will definitely be better with DiV!
Even if we assume McDaniels and Reid won't improve (but they probably will improve!) i still think we've got a great chance at finishing #1 in the West.
And we've still got Gobert and Reid to defend Jokic, and we can keep them on the court for the whole time Jokic is on the court!

Um...is this serious? We just traded one of the most efficient offensive players in NBA *history* and you don't think our offense is going to suffer? Wow. Just...wow.

Randle is very inefficient and a broomstick on defense. DD is a backup guard. He is nowhere near the offensive player KAT is.

This was a very, very bad trade for the Wolves. We gave up a franchise player for a one year rental, a backup SG and a fake first round pick that will never convey.

The Knicks fans are devastated at losing DiV, and they know he's trending to 20+ppg and good defense too (he scored 19.3ppg after the all-star break), so basically Klay Thompson or slightly less; and he's got the quickest release in the NBA for a 40% trey-shooter!
So DiV makes up for the shooting lost from KAT, and Randle is a better post-up scorer than KAT.
And Randle has a reputation for giving the Knicks grit, while KAT is known for soft defense, so i don't see how our defense will suffer.
You could say we lost height, but Gobert is huge, and Naz and Randle are both more athletic and more power than KAT.

DD is a backup guard. He's not starting. You don't trade a franchise future HOF player in his prime for a backup guard. He's nowhere near as good as Klay Thompson in his prime years. He won't be on the court for anywhere near the minutes KAT would be on the court.

Randle is softer than Charmin on defense. KAT at least tries on defense and can block shots. Randle's so inefficient on offense that the spacing between him and Gobert is going to be a disaster.

[Klomp]

DD is a backup guard. He's not starting. You don't trade a franchise future HOF player in his prime for a backup guard. He's nowhere near as good as Klay Thompson in his prime years. He won't be on the court for anywhere near the minutes KAT would be on the court.

Donte has started 190 of 354 career games, and has only had one season on a sub-.500 team. He is at worst a fringe starter.

[Howard Cosell]

My wife said the same thing. We are both in shock over this idiotic trade. If they had kept KAT for just one more year I honestly feel this team wins a championship. Now it is first round and out with some of the worst, if not the worst, spacing in the NBA.

But losing KAT won't hurt our defense. And the Knicks fans said they're worried because Randle gave them grit.
So our defense might be better with Randle, plus we've got DiV and he can defend well.
At worst i think our defense will be the same as last season, and our offense will definitely be better with DiV!
Even if we assume McDaniels and Reid won't improve (but they probably will improve!) i still think we've got a great chance at finishing #1 in the West.
And we've still got Gobert and Reid to defend Jokic, and we can keep them on the court for the whole time Jokic is on the court!

Um...is this serious? We just traded one of the most efficient offensive players in NBA *history* and you don't think our offense is going to suffer? Wow. Just...wow.

Randle is very inefficient and a broomstick on defense. DD is a backup guard. He is nowhere near the offensive player KAT is.

This was a very, very bad trade for the Wolves. We gave up a franchise player for a one year rental, a backup SG and a fake first round pick that will never convey.

Thank God I don’t have to see Towns go into panic mode anymore during the playoffs.

Not to mention take a look at how many games Towns has played in over last 5 years and how much more money is he guaranteed?

Great trade by Twolves.

Knick fans will be pulling their hair out all next year and it’s going to be a blast to watch.

I’ve been calling on the Twolves to trade Towns for years and it finally happened.

Watching Towns foul during playoffs…watching him play like his hair is on fire was way too stressful.

Enjoy him Knicks…he is all yours.

[coachEmily]

Um...is this serious? We just traded one of the most efficient offensive players in NBA *history* and you don't think our offense is going to suffer? Wow. Just...wow.

Randle is very inefficient and a broomstick on defense. DD is a backup guard. He is nowhere near the offensive player KAT is.

This was a very, very bad trade for the Wolves. We gave up a franchise player for a one year rental, a backup SG and a fake first round pick that will never convey.

The Knicks fans are devastated at losing DiV, and they know he's trending to 20+ppg and good defense too (he scored 19.3ppg after the all-star break), so basically Klay Thompson or slightly less; and he's got the quickest release in the NBA for a 40% trey-shooter!
So DiV makes up for the shooting lost from KAT, and Randle is a better post-up scorer than KAT.
And Randle has a reputation for giving the Knicks grit, while KAT is known for soft defense, so i don't see how our defense will suffer.
You could say we lost height, but Gobert is huge, and Naz and Randle are both more athletic and more power than KAT.

DD is a backup guard. He's not starting. You don't trade a franchise future HOF player in his prime for a backup guard. He's nowhere near as good as Klay Thompson in his prime years. He won't be on the court for anywhere near the minutes KAT would be on the court.

Randle is softer than Charmin on defense. KAT at least tries on defense and can block shots. Randle's so inefficient on offense that the spacing between him and Gobert is going to be a disaster.

DiV is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and 19.3ppg after the all-star break, and shot .425 downtown in the playoffs for 17.8ppg!
Well the Knicks fans don't think Randle is soft on defense from what i've read and i never thought he was soft either... and he shot .472 from the field last season, and that's efficient enough and will probably be even more efficient here because we've got more scoring options so defenders won't focus on Randle.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I remember writing here months ago that KAT situation was mostly depending on Finch and TC minds. If they did believe he could be a factor plus in PO tîme , they would never have trade him. But paying such money for a guy who never carry a team when it matters make not much sense. I understand their point of view. I like KAT but at 40 millions not 50 or 60..

[minimus]

The perception of this trade depends on two things:

First, what's DDV value on open market? To me he is kind of mix of Mikal Bridges (in terms of team friendly contract and role player with star production), Malik Monk (as high volume scoring guard coming from the bench) and Hart (hard, tough, all hustle guard).

Malik Monk resigned for 78/4
Josh Hart got 80/4
KCP got 66/3 (I love this comparison! both are champions)
Bridges got traded for 4FRPs and two swaps

Pick value after Gobert trade is certainly lower now, and I believe that NYK could get multiple late FRPs for DDV. Imagine OKC and Presti who needed spacing around SGA badly.

Second is perception of Randle as Towns replacement. He is not. Completely different type of players. I see it this way: we replaced Towns and Kyle Anderson with more Reid and Randle. In some sense Randle is similar to Anderson: can handle the ball, can run in transition, can pass. While Reid is very very close in shooting stats to Towns, including volume.

Finally, the biggest IF here is Towns health. I hope and pray he can stay healthy under Thibs command. But it is a huge risk, huge risk.

[Sothron]

DD is a backup guard. He's not starting. You don't trade a franchise future HOF player in his prime for a backup guard. He's nowhere near as good as Klay Thompson in his prime years. He won't be on the court for anywhere near the minutes KAT would be on the court.

Donte has started 190 of 354 career games, and has only had one season on a sub-.500 team. He is at worst a fringe starter.

He isn't starting *here*. And btw that's barely over half of the games he's played. He was already going to be a bench player on the Knicks which apparently upset him. So he comes here...where's going to be coming off the bench. He's not starting over Ant.

He is not anywhere close to the player KAT is.

[Sothron]

The Knicks fans are devastated at losing DiV, and they know he's trending to 20+ppg and good defense too (he scored 19.3ppg after the all-star break), so basically Klay Thompson or slightly less; and he's got the quickest release in the NBA for a 40% trey-shooter!
So DiV makes up for the shooting lost from KAT, and Randle is a better post-up scorer than KAT.
And Randle has a reputation for giving the Knicks grit, while KAT is known for soft defense, so i don't see how our defense will suffer.
You could say we lost height, but Gobert is huge, and Naz and Randle are both more athletic and more power than KAT.

DD is a backup guard. He's not starting. You don't trade a franchise future HOF player in his prime for a backup guard. He's nowhere near as good as Klay Thompson in his prime years. He won't be on the court for anywhere near the minutes KAT would be on the court.

Randle is softer than Charmin on defense. KAT at least tries on defense and can block shots. Randle's so inefficient on offense that the spacing between him and Gobert is going to be a disaster.

DiV is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and 19.3ppg after the all-star break, and shot .425 downtown in the playoffs for 17.8ppg!
Well the Knicks fans don't think Randle is soft on defense from what i've read and i never thought he was soft either... and he shot .472 from the field last season, and that's efficient enough and will probably be even more efficient here because we've got more scoring options so defenders won't focus on Randle.

Look at his TS and advanced stats. He's inefficient volume scorer who has to monopolize the ball to "get his". His bully ball in the post won't work here because Gobert is already in the post and paint. The spacing will be atrocious. With KAT's ability to shoot outside it made starting him and Rudy not a problem at all on offense because the spacing was fine. Now? Oh boy.

I've watched Randle since his rookie season. He doesn't try on defense. As also a Hawks fan, trust me, we loved having him on the Knicks because he was such a bad player on defense and so inefficient on offense it made the games much easier for us.

[Note30]

DD is a backup guard. He's not starting. You don't trade a franchise future HOF player in his prime for a backup guard. He's nowhere near as good as Klay Thompson in his prime years. He won't be on the court for anywhere near the minutes KAT would be on the court.

Donte has started 190 of 354 career games, and has only had one season on a sub-.500 team. He is at worst a fringe starter.

He isn't starting *here*. And btw that's barely over half of the games he's played. He was already going to be a bench player on the Knicks which apparently upset him. So he comes here...where's going to be coming off the bench. He's not starting over Ant.

He is not anywhere close to the player KAT is.

All of this **** is just rationalization.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I found the debate a bit funny through . We didn't make it last year because our offense ( with KAT) was so flat at some moments of the game ( specially when Mike sit and ANT get out of breath). I don't think anyone here can say that this trade make our offense worst.
My only concern is the space as Randle - Rudy seems not to be a good match, let's see.

[coachEmily]

I found the debate a bit funny through . We didn't make it last year because our offense ( with KAT) was so flat at some moments of the game ( specially when Mike sit and ANT get out of breath). I don't think anyone here can say that this trade make our offense worst.
My only concern is the space as Randle - Rudy seems not to be a good match, let's see.

Well Gobert plays 34 minutes per game, so there is at least 14 minutes where Randle can have the post to himself!
And some of the other minutes Randle can be on the perimeter because he attempted 5.3 threes per game last season, and 8.3 threes per game in 2022-23 so its normal for him to be outside plus he can dribble and slash better than KAT.
So people can say Randle will give us bad spacing, but the fact is he attempts the same number of threes as KAT, so obviously Randle does not clog the post...

[Tukkerwolf]

After reading it all I'd prefer we didn't make the deal.

What would have been your alternative? We had two realistic options:

1. ship the 6th highest paid player in the league, yet 3rd most important player on our roster to another team. Options would be very limited and I genuinely believe NY was the only feasible deal on the table this summer.

2. Gut the team completely in order to maintain the core of KAT, Gobert and Ant who take up 100% of our cap space.

I think I'd rather have more flexibility and players like NAZ, McD, DDV and NAW surrounding Gobert and Ant than the three high earners and a bunch of fillers.

That's your opinion and you have your right to it, but we could have ran it back this year with a great shot at a title. I think our shot at a title now is less than it was before the trade.

We could have indeed, but I think there are two points to note.
1. If this final run would fail the franchise would have been back to square one for the next decade. I love the analogy that Dane Moore used last Saturday. With KAT still on the roster the coming season the Wolves would have a mortgage with payments equal to their net income, and on top of that every couple of months a court bailiff comes in to take away all valuables from that house.

2. I trust Connelly more than my own judgment. If I was in charge of the Wolves we would have still been playing Russell-Beverly-Beasley-Vando and Okogie. And last year would have been a disaster. Connelly managed to navigate our roster magnificently the last years and was able to sell high on a lot of players and I think he thought last year was the maximum achievable success for this roster and with the 2nd apron and a KAT-Gobert combination that will never win a title this was the right time to move on.

[KGdaBom]

One thing that really surprises me is that not one person has mentioned that trading KAT might piss Ant off. If it does and leads to his early departure it was a HORRIBLE trade.

[shrink]

I will give Connelly credit again for likely identifying the one NBA team who would pay the most for Towns.

It also sounds like he negotiated this hard, with reports that he had firm “no’s” on several NYK offers over the last six months, the patience of waiting until NYK was desperate with Mitchell Robinson injured, then still only being willing to negotiate when they finally included DiVincenzo, and then still holding out to get that possible 1st rounder.

Just like the Mike Conley trade where he held out for NAW and three 2nds, I think he squeezed every drop out of the orange.

[DaMplsKid]

When I saw this yesterday morning, I was not a happy camper. My first thought was "All the SOB's who wanted a Randle for KAT trade finally got their wish." I will miss KAT and his smile, his shot and his team first attitude. Reflection on this trade still doesn't make me happy, as I'm pretty sure the Wolves as constructed could have won a championship this year.

I do understand why it happened, because they are afraid of that LT and the second apron restrictions. This is a business, in the end, and no matter who is running it, they would like to not spend any extra money if they can help it. KAT wound up being extra money. I just hope all you that despise KAT are wiling to eat crow when he comes back to the cities and puts up 70 against "a better defense, now that KAT is gone."

Let's see what this team can do, but I don't think they made it better for the short term.

Spoiler:

And I will be ecstatic if I'm wrong and they win the championship this year

Two things: What make you think with Kat being a player we need and count on have us winning a championship? When has KAT shown to be part of a winning team? (please don't say last year) With the way the team was constructed last we should of won if KAT could dominate PJ F'in Washington.

Second point. I could see Kat coming back and lighting it up for 70pts but from my experience that means we win. Look at KAT's 62 point game last year. I could also see KAT picking up two quick fouls and sitting for most of the first half.

[DaMplsKid]

With the Wolves it is probably toxic to be paying him $49.2M, $53.1M, $57.1M, and $61.0M when Gobert plays Towns best position on the court. Towns contract wouldn't be toxic if we didn't have so much also committed to Ant, Gobert, McDaniels, etc. It sucks that KAT was named All-NBA third team in 2022 to make him eligible for a Supermax. We likely would not have needed to trade him if he was making $41M, $44.3M, $47.6M, and $50.8M on a max deal.

I think the point you and shrink are missing about his contract is you cant pay anyone that much money who isn't a winner. Pussy Kat isn't a winner and doesn't make winning plays regardless of the money he makes. Ever contract no matter how big or small you want guys who get better, love to win and show up when it counts.

The money might of played a roll in this trade but I think the fact PJ F'in Washington out played Karl "Pussy Kat" Towns in the Western Conference Finals. Stop giving this guy a pass cause he was nice and wanted to stay here. His playoff/big game numbers are were the men sperate themselves from the boys and Towns plays like a boy in those games making a mans salary.

Get lost with your disgusting comment. KAT has been a great player for us and he isn't a pussy you sicko. I'd like you to be alone with him and call him a pussy. See what happens.

I personal know KAT would do anything about it. He doesn't have that fight in him. Watch the Green attack on Rudy...... were was KAT? I've seen Kat in public he doesn't intermediate me at all. Just cause your tall doesn't mean anything.

Stop calling Pussy KAT a great player. You can call in a nice guy maybe even a great person or a great shooter (unless it counts in teh playoffs) But he isn't a "Great Player" the stats and record prove that.

[DaMplsKid]

My wife said the same thing. We are both in shock over this idiotic trade. If they had kept KAT for just one more year I honestly feel this team wins a championship. Now it is first round and out with some of the worst, if not the worst, spacing in the NBA.

But losing KAT won't hurt our defense. And the Knicks fans said they're worried because Randle gave them grit.
So our defense might be better with Randle, plus we've got DiV and he can defend well.
At worst i think our defense will be the same as last season, and our offense will definitely be better with DiV!
Even if we assume McDaniels and Reid won't improve (but they probably will improve!) i still think we've got a great chance at finishing #1 in the West.
And we've still got Gobert and Reid to defend Jokic, and we can keep them on the court for the whole time Jokic is on the court!

Um...is this serious? We just traded one of the most efficient offensive players in NBA *history* and you don't think our offense is going to suffer? Wow. Just...wow.

Randle is very inefficient and a broomstick on defense. DD is a backup guard. He is nowhere near the offensive player KAT is.

This was a very, very bad trade for the Wolves. We gave up a franchise player for a one year rental, a backup SG and a fake first round pick that will never convey.

Stop looking at this at a surface level or just going off of ESPN highlight/box scores.

If TOWNS was so "efficient why didn't it impact or team offensive rating? You understand TOWNS was part of any of the top 5 offenseive 3 man lineup combination for our team? For a player of his "skill" you would think he would push any players to be better?

TOWNS was the worst defender in the starting lineup and again wasn't part of teh top 8 3 man pairing defensively on the team. Not to mention the team had a 12.pt better =/- last year in the playoffs with TOWNS off to court. I don't understand why people think he is the great defender all of a sudden because he played with 4 other guys who made him look better.

KAT has lead the league in offensive fouls for the last 4 YEARS!!!! efficient??? maybe at fouling on the offensive end.

These 4 guys around Randle will bring his defensive numbers up this year and everyone will be talking about how great his defensive stats are much like Towns.

As for efficient look at how many 3s Donte shot last year ( 3rd most in the NBA) at 40% plus he is a very good defender.

I get that you guys like KAT cause he seems like a "nice" guy and was with the franchise for so long but don't make up things about his game or impact on winning.

[DaMplsKid]

Um...is this serious? We just traded one of the most efficient offensive players in NBA *history* and you don't think our offense is going to suffer? Wow. Just...wow.

Randle is very inefficient and a broomstick on defense. DD is a backup guard. He is nowhere near the offensive player KAT is.

This was a very, very bad trade for the Wolves. We gave up a franchise player for a one year rental, a backup SG and a fake first round pick that will never convey.

The Knicks fans are devastated at losing DiV, and they know he's trending to 20+ppg and good defense too (he scored 19.3ppg after the all-star break), so basically Klay Thompson or slightly less; and he's got the quickest release in the NBA for a 40% trey-shooter!
So DiV makes up for the shooting lost from KAT, and Randle is a better post-up scorer than KAT.
And Randle has a reputation for giving the Knicks grit, while KAT is known for soft defense, so i don't see how our defense will suffer.
You could say we lost height, but Gobert is huge, and Naz and Randle are both more athletic and more power than KAT.

DD is a backup guard. He's not starting. You don't trade a franchise future HOF player in his prime for a backup guard. He's nowhere near as good as Klay Thompson in his prime years. He won't be on the court for anywhere near the minutes KAT would be on the court.

Randle is softer than Charmin on defense. KAT at least tries on defense and can block shots. Randle's so inefficient on offense that the spacing between him and Gobert is going to be a disaster.

OK just stop it!!! KAT might be a HOF player but it's not cause he was a winner.

Go dig deeper on Donte's game his numbers last year were better then Klay in his prime. KAT was only on the court for 24 min in the playoffs cause of his foul trouble.

Randle shot better the KAT last season on corner 3's. I think spacing will be fine plus now we have a secondary playmaker in the offense. KAT wasn't a playmaker. ( see offensive fouls and asst/TO ratio)