The early analysis of the blockbuster trade that is set to send Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a draft pick aren’t overwhelmingly positive for either side.
It’s a shocking trade with big implications just days before NBA training camps open.
While it’ll take time for each team to integrate the new players and ultimately reveal who got the better end of the trade, one thing is certain: moving on from Karl-Anthony Towns is a tough blow to the Timberwolves and its fans, regardless of how the on-court changes shake out.
Related: BREAKING: Timberwolves, Knicks make blockbuster trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns
The 28-year-old former No. 1 overall pick in 2015 went through a lot in Minnesota. He shined on the court, winning the Rookie of the Year Award, becoming a four-time All-Star and two-time Third Team All-NBA player, and setting multiple records with his scoring and three-point shooting. He was always very involved in the community, too, and won the NBA’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award this year for his efforts advocating for voting rights, education reform and issues with mass incarceration.