On Thursday night, Karl-Anthony Towns returned to Minneapolis to face his former Timberwolves team for the first time since being traded in October.
In the blockbuster deal just prior to the 2024-25 preseason, Towns was traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a future first-round pick from Detroit.
The move shellshocked both Towns and Timberwolves fans. Towns had dedicated his career to Minnesota and the Timberwolves franchise. His electric on-court play established him as one of the best Timberwolves of all time, and his off-court philanthropy made him a pillar of the Minnesota community.
During his nine years with the Timberwolves, Towns made four All-Star appearances, earned All-NBA honors twice, and helped lead the team to four playoff appearances. Notably, he played a key role in the Timberwolves’ remarkable return to the Western Conference Finals last year, ending a two-decade drought and delivering one of the most memorable runs in franchise history.
An Emotional Return
This is why his return was an emotional one.
During press availability before the game, Towns said he is “an avid Timberwolves fan,” and his old Timberwolves teammates are “still his brothers.”
Karl-Anthony Towns on keeping in touch with his old teammates and watching their games.
"I watch. I'm a avid Timberwolves fan now." pic.twitter.com/3pZGz7htcF
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) December 19, 2024
He even posted a tribute to Minnesota on X.
Minnesota 🫶🏾 pic.twitter.com/MJXCYlHcRW
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) December 19, 2024
The Timberwolves returned the love.
Timberwolves players were seen exchanging pleasantries with Towns during warm-ups, and the team aired a two-minute video of Towns’s appreciation before introducing him.
Anthony Edwards & Karl Anthony Towns Moment At Halfcourt pic.twitter.com/OMZ49djOuk
— SneakerReporter (@SneakerReporter) December 20, 2024
Towns was touched by the outpouring of love from his teammates, the Timberwolves franchise, and also the fans, who stood and applauded for him as he was introduced before the game.
There has been much debate about who won or lost this trade. Some, like Nick Wright, have even suggested it could be a rare lose-lose trade that negatively impacts both teams.
While it’s still far too early to judge the long-term success or failure of the deal, Towns made an effort in the game on Thursday to prove that the Knicks made the right decision and the Timberwolves made the wrong one.
Towns Goes Off
In his return to Minnesota, Towns and the Knicks were dominant.
After a back-and-forth start, the Timberwolves held a one-point lead going into the second quarter— their last lead of the game. The Knicks came out firing in the second, with Towns leading the charge. He had multiple steals, scored at the rim — including an and-one — and knocked down several deep threes.
Towns scored 19 points in the quarter. His efficient play fueled a 41-18 run, giving the Knicks a commanding 21-point lead at halftime. Towns finished the first half with a double-double, totaling 22 points and 10 rebounds.
The Knicks never looked back, maintaining their lead and winning the game by 26 points, 133-107. Towns finished with a stellar stat line: 32 points, 20 rebounds, six assists, and two steals. He was incredibly efficient, shooting 10-of-12 from the field, 5-of-5 from three, and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. Towns also posted a +31 plus-minus on the night.
Timberwolves Offensive Struggles
Towns’ offensive talent has garnered more attention this year thanks to his move to a major media market.
His abilities are receiving more praise than ever before. For Timberwolves fans, this recognition is bittersweet. On one hand, it’s gratifying to see Towns finally getting the credit he deserves for his remarkable shooting and scoring ability. On the other hand, his absence from the Timberwolves has been glaring, particularly on the offensive end, where his impact is sorely missed.
While Julius Randle is putting up solid numbers, his impact has been far less positive than Towns’. He struggles to shoot from three as effectively, which limits the space available for the Timberwolves’ best player, Anthony Edwards, to operate.
He’s also not a conduit for good ball movement, leaving the Timberwolves’ offense stagnant and rudderless. Randle is just as erratic with his body and the ball, leading to poor shot selection and turnovers. His smaller size and inconsistent effort on defense make him a weaker rebounder and defender than Towns.
The Timberwolves had hoped to offset some of the gap between Randle and Towns by adding Donte DiVincenzo. His floor-spacing ability with his three-point shooting, willingness to pass, and effort on defense were all seen as ways to close that gap and add depth to the roster.
Unfortunately, DiVincenzo has struggled this season.
Last year with the Knicks, he averaged 15.5 points per game on 44% shooting from the field and 40% from three. This season with the Timberwolves, he’s averaging just 8.9 points per game on 37% shooting from the field and 33% from three. This dramatic decline in both production and efficiency has made it even more challenging for the Timberwolves to replace Towns’ offense.
Too Early To Tell
So far, especially after Thursday’s dominant performance by Towns and the Knicks, it looks like the Knicks won the trade. That said, the Rudy Gobert trade looked horrible for the Timberwolves after the first year and even worse after only the first twenty or so games.
While it’s still too early to declare the Knicks victors in this exchange, the early returns are in their favor.
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