The Knicks Got Better But They're Also Rolling The Dice

Last Friday, the New York Knicks traded Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo among others to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl Anthony-Towns in a blockbuster move. The timing of the trade is surprising given that most moves happen in July, and the NBA season starts in less than a month. As for the players involved, it seems like a decent trade on paper. The Knicks still are among the league’s contenders, but they are rolling the dice in more ways than one. 

On the positive side, Towns is very talented. He possesses a unique skill set for a big man thanks to his ability to score in the paint and beyond the three point arc. He has averaged over 20 points in the last eight seasons to go along with a career average 10 rebounds. Towns’ skills on the perimeter particularly separate him from other big men. His 39.8% three point shooting is the best among all centers in NBA history, which should benefit the Knicks who will now have even more floor spacing. Towns gave fans a preview of that skillset in their opening preseason game when he drained a 27 foot three pointer for his first points. 

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He also began to embrace the role of a number two option in Minnesota, which bodes well for Jalen Brunson. The Knicks clearly want to maximize Brunson’s skills and Towns gives them a legitimate scoring threat who can space the floor. Both of their skill sets give them the potential to be a dangerous offense duo. I attended their preseason game against the Washington Wizards and was already impressed by the two-man game between both players. Towns' floor spacing allows him to succeed on the pick and roll or pick and pop. He's also capable of setting up Brunson to score as Towns is a decent passer for his position.

From a lineup standpoint, the Knicks likely felt they had a surplus of guys who play both shooting guard and small forward. When they traded for Mikal Bridges back in June, it meant that DiVincenzo and Josh Hart would be playing reduced minutes. While the Knicks could’ve used a committee to give Bridges, DiVincenzo, and Hart similar minutes, this trade helps give them more stability in that area. Bridges and Hart will be playing the same range of minutes from around 30-35 a game which gives them more chances to be impactful.

More importantly, Towns has helped turn the Timberwolves into a regular playoff team. They’ve made three straight playoff appearances with this past season being their deepest playoff run in 20 years. His growing playoff experience fits well with a Knicks team that has also made the playoffs three times in the last four years. 

However, there are also multiple risks that come with this trade. Towns hasn’t exactly been healthy in recent years. Since 2019, Towns has played 250 out of 382 games, which is a vast comparison to Randle who only missed 17 games in four seasons before suffering a season ending shoulder injury in January. 

Discipline is also a problem for Towns. He has gotten in foul trouble in each of his last three playoff appearances, which ultimately affected his minutes down the stretch. Given that discipline is a huge component of the Knicks defense, Towns doesn’t have to be an elite rim protector like Dikembe Mutombo, but he has to play smarter on that end. 

Even if he does happen to be everything the Knicks hope, they need his production to be sustainable in the long term. Towns has a large contract that will kick in starting this season. Whereas Randle was eligible for a four year, $181 million extension, Towns’ salary will be four years and $220 million. The lowest the Knicks will have to pay in a single season will be the $49 million he’s owed this year. 

Finally, there’s the fact that Randle and DiVincenzo have already proved to be critical pieces for the Knicks. Randle is one of the prime reasons why the Knicks have become a winning team. When the Knicks signed Randle, they were coming off a 17 win season. Since then, Randle has made the Knicks into a regular playoff team. Each year, he’s gotten better and has three all star appearances and two All-NBA selections to back it up. He was well on his way to another All-NBA appearance before injuring his shoulder in January. 

DiVincenzo blossomed into an essential contributor in his lone season with the Knicks. A fiery competitor, DiVincenzo averaged a career high 15.5 points on 40% three-point shooting. He was one of the few Knicks who was healthy the entire season and he only got better as the season went on. In the playoffs, DiVincenzo relished big moments, hitting multiple go-ahead shots under the final minute. 

​This is the definition of a blockbuster move. Towns gives the Knicks a player that is talented and capable of complementing Brunson. If he can stay healthy, Towns will thrive on the offensive end and give New York another threat to close out games. However, the Knicks are risking the chemistry on the team. Despite the injuries, the Knicks were a very tight-knit team that embraced all of their responsibilities. Lots of Knicks fans anticipate what a healthier version would look like, and there’s still plenty of reason to be excited. However, team chemistry will be another thing to watch more than last year.