Karl-Anthony Towns trade to Knicks is not finalized yet

Photo: Peter Baba

A reported blockbuster trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns heading to the New York Knicks is still not finalized. Late last week, news emerged that the Minnesota Timberwolves had agreed to send Towns to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

Although the framework of the deal is in place, it has not been officially completed. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the trade is expected to be finalized early this week. Shelburne tweeted, “The Knicks-TWolves-Hornets trade involving Julius Randle, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Donte DiVincenzo is still on track, but not completed yet.”

The delay means that the players involved in the trade may miss their respective teams’ media days as NBA training camps open. Towns, Randle, and DiVincenzo are not expected to participate in team activities until the trade is officially confirmed.

This trade has generated significant buzz, as it involves major names from two prominent teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences. Towns, a three-time All-Star, has been a cornerstone for the Timberwolves since he was drafted in 2015. His departure would mark the end of an era in Minnesota.

Randle, the centerpiece of the deal for the Timberwolves, is coming off a season in which he averaged 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for the Knicks.

DiVincenzo, a versatile guard, would also be joining the Timberwolves as part of the trade. DiVincenzo played a key role for the Knicks last season, averaging career-high 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 29.1 minutes per game..

While there is optimism that the trade will go through, NBA trades can be complex, with multiple moving parts often causing delays. For now, both teams and players must wait as the final details are ironed out.