MINNEAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Towns will reportedly no longer be calling the Target Center home after the 2015 first-overall pick was traded to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick via Detroit, according to NBA Insider Shams Charania.
To say fans were surprised would be an understatement. "I don't get shocked by a lot of trades, but this one kind of shocked me," said Timberwolves fan Karee Anthony-Bello. KAT himself shared a post on X as the news broke, posting simply "..."
"A lot of people, we wanted them to run it back," said lifelong Timberwolves fan Noah Frechette. "We thought we had a good team, run it back, see what happens this year, but I mean, we will see."
Towns averaged 22.9 points per game while shooting 39.8% from the three-point line in his Timberwolves career.
"Well like almost everybody else I was stunned by it," said MinnPost Timberwolves columnist Britt Robson. Robson feels like the trade is being done for two reasons. One, to create salary cap flexibility down the road, and two because of the emergence of NBA 6th man of the year, Naz Reid.
"If Naz Reid had not emerged as a really good player... then Karl-Anthony Towns would still be on the team today."
KAT will return to Target Center on Thursday, Dec. 19 when The Timberwolves host the Knicks. The Timberwolves first regular season game is Oct. 22 against the Lakers.
