Feb 24, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves middle Karl-Anthony Cities (32) reacts to the workforce s win in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets after the sport at Goal Middle. credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports activities Begin spreading the information.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks labored out a commerce late Friday night to ship large man Karl-Anthony Cities to the New York Knicks in change for Julius Randle, Donte Divincenzo and a first-round draft choice from the Detroit Pistons.
The commerce additionally consists of the Knicks sending wage, DaQuan Jeffries and draft compensation to the Charlotte Hornets to finish the deal.
Right here’s the factor. What on this planet have been the Minnesota Timberwolves considering?
Minnesota captured the center of America throughout their run to the Western Convention Finals just some months in the past. It was a coming-out celebration for Anthony Edwards, because the 23-year-old proved that he really can grow to be the face of the NBA.
However that run wasn’t doable with out Cities, who masterfully spaced the ground for an explosive Edwards, and now will likely be heading to the Jap Convention to assist Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, who the Knicks simply acquired by way of commerce earlier this offseason.
Cities was shocked by this information and delivered a cryptic tweet of his personal minutes earlier than Shams Charania broke the information about his commerce.
He by no means requested a commerce away from the Timberwolves, in keeping with reviews. The 2015 No. 1 total decide spent 9 seasons in Minnesota and at last noticed some success, simply to be shipped away.
The return of Randle and Divincenzo ought to make the Timberwolves deeper. However a entrance courtroom of Randle and Rudy Gobert appears like will probably be congested and simply doesn’t make a lot sense on paper. The Wolves thrived when Cities, an NBA Three-Level Contest Champion, was spacing the ground. Randle and Gobert paired collectively simply sounds unserious.
Knicks followers have needed to see their workforce discover a technique to transfer on from Randle for the previous two offseasons. No love misplaced there. New York dropping Divincenzo breaks up the Villanova reunion, but it surely seemingly will not be the top of the world, particularly when the return will get you a star middle.
The primary spherical decide from the Pistons is a enjoyable thriller field added to this transfer. It’s already being referred to as the profitable facet of this commerce.
However the Pistons needs to be higher. They’ve spent years as backside feeders and have hoarded some enjoyable, younger expertise, together with Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey and Ron Holland. They additionally simply employed J.B. Bickerstaff straight after his departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s recognized for turning loser franchises round. No one’s saying the Pistons will likely be within the NBA Playoffs, but it surely’s not a layup that they are going to be within the dialog for the No. 1 total decide.
And why would the Timberwolves need the No. 1 total decide? You have been simply so shut. You have been nearer than you’ve ever been earlier than.
The five-game sequence in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks within the convention finals was not enjoyable, but it surely gave gamers like Edwards and Cities helpful expertise about competing in opposition to a participant like Luka Doncic.
Doncic would go on to be defeated in opposition to the Boston Celtics within the NBA Finals. The Knicks have completely reloaded and will likely be one of many greatest forces within the Jap Convention set to dethrone Boston.
They usually’ll be doing so with Cities, who, on paper, they have been capable of pry away fairly simply.
