MINNEAPOLIS — After days of waiting, three veteran players who are relocating from the Big Apple to the Mini Apple took a minute to sit down and introduced themselves to their new fanbase.
Former Knicks Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and Keita Bates-Diop - who had a previous stint with the Timberwolves - shared their reactions to the trade that brought them to Minnesota for franchise cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns. The deal seemingly came out of the blue, leaving Randle floored to be leaving a place he had come to love.
"A lot of emotions," shared Randle, a 10-year NBA veteran and two-time All-NBA selection. "You spend a certain amount of time in a place, New York, having a goal in mind to accomplish a lot of great things - a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into that organization (Knicks), that uniform."
"But for me, I woke up the next morning and I was really, really excited. A breath of fresh air," Randle said. "I want to help win a championship... that's the only thing that matters."
The 29-year-old Randle told reporters he immediately felt comfortable, having played for Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch in New Orleans. He called Finch "a genius" and "a great communicator" who knows how to get the best out of his players.
DiVincenzo is a 3-point gunner whose game is on an upward trajectory. It was no secret that the Wolves made overtures about acquiring the versatile guard last off-season, and finally got the job done. When asked by a reporter if he preferred to play the point, the off-guard or small forward, the 27-year-old DiVincenzo - a member of the 2021 NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks - laughed.
"I'm a basketball player," he said, indicating he will be happy to play anywhere on the court. "Our team (the Timberwolves) is full of basketball players, so whatever Finch throws out there, the IQ of this team, the versatility of this team makes anything possible."
"You want to be somewhere you're wanted... and I feel wanted here," DiVincenzo said.
DiVincenzo already has a friend in Minnesota - he went to high school in Delaware with Vikings offensive tackle Brian O'Neill, playing hoops with the big fella and winning two state titles.
The trade marks a mini homecoming of sorts for small forward Bates-Diop, who was originally drafted by the Timberwolves out of Ohio State in 2018. He said coming back to Minnesota has a familiar feel, even though the state of the franchise is different.
"Not really that strange," Bates-Diop told reporters. "Because there are so many familiar faces still here, looking around at the crowd, most of you were here when I got drafted. It feels a bit different, obviously, winning more than last time I was here - a winning culture, a goal in mind - I'm happy to be a part of it."
Along with the three players, the Wolves also received a first-round pick in the NBA draft from the Knicks via the Detroit Pistons.