Timberwolves and Knicks trade guys

And a couple of these guys had to go

Media day already took place for a few NBA teams, including the champs. No team (including those thirsty champs) is certain in its prospects, least of all content, but franchises are settled on a direction. A course agreed-to in March, acted upon covertly in April, May and June, explained in July.

NBA trades in September or October are not typically basketball trades, nobody deals for swingman depth or pops for a reserve center in September, not unless the accountants are talking, swearing. NBA deals in September sometimes swell in the form of a beloved franchise icon finally saying so long after much deliberation, a superstar past his September: Patrick Ewing to Seattle or Damian Lillard in Milwaukee.

It is likely the Minnesota Timberwolves owned strong enough forecast of its financial options and outlook in spring as it did in September. Trades happen any time but the Wolves left it for early autumn, and themselves prone for pickin’ all over.

It might be true New York felt the same in spring glowering over Julius Randle’s impending contract extension as New York did last week, staring at the same, damn, numbers. Did they really hit an impasse, necessitating a deal? Or were the sentiments the same as ever, throughout summer?

Karl-Anthony Towns to New York, Randle and Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round pick to Minnesota. The first-round pick, from Detroit, may never really ever come from Detroit (protected for selections 1-13 in 2025, 1-11 in 2026 and 1-9 in 2027 or else a 2027 second-rounder, via RealGM) because the Pistons stink. And Minnesota won’t pay a penny of the four-year, $220 million extension it signed Towns to in 2022.

KAT averaged 22 points and eight rebounds last season, he owns career averages of 23 and 11 and turns 29 in November. Karl-Anthony managed 50/41/87 last season alongside career marks of 52/40/84. The man scores, efficiently, even if it feels strange watching a 7-footer launch five treys per outing. Even if the post moves aren’t exactly “elastic.” Even if he’s putting the ball on the floor again, curling into traffic. Does he see something there? It looks like he’s dribbling into a team meeting.