The Minnesota Timberwolves are sending Karl-Anthony Cities to the New York Knicks in alternate for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft decide in a franchise-altering deal for each side, an individual with data of the deal stated Friday evening.
The individual spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of the commerce, which was first reported by The Athletic, had not been finalized.
For the Knicks, the commerce capped off what has been a busy offseason that has included re-signing Jalen Brunson to a four-year deal, buying and selling for Mikal Bridges and signing free agent OG Anunoby.
Cities, a four-time All-Star getting into his tenth season who’s top-of-the-line exterior taking pictures massive males within the NBA, by no means hinted at any discontent with the crew that drafted him first total in 2015 regardless of a number of lean years previous the run to the Western Convention finals final spring.
Lively within the Twin Cities neighborhood, prepared to defer the alpha position to younger star Anthony Edwards, and unbothered by the transfer to a stretch energy ahead position following the acquisition of heart Rudy Gobert two years in the past, Cities didn’t seem to see this transfer coming three days earlier than the start of coaching camp.
In an interview with the AP earlier this week a few youth heart he’s serving to construct within the Dominican Republic — the homeland of his late mom, Jackie — Cities spoke with nothing in need of pleasure concerning the season forward and Minnesota’s outlook coming off the 2023-24 breakthrough that led to a five-game loss to Dallas within the convention finals.
“We confirmed our benefit final season,” Cities stated. “We confirmed our progress, and I believe extra importantly we confirmed maturity. We discovered a technique to present we belonged. I’m simply so happy with what we have been in a position to do final yr. We’re not going to be shocking anybody. I believe we’ve proven that we’re a crew that you simply undoubtedly need to take into accounts. If you see us on the calendar, you’ve received to carry your greatest.”
The Wolves will most undoubtedly need to carry their greatest on Dec. 19, after they host the Knicks. Minnesota performs an exhibition recreation at New York on Oct. 13 and within the common season at Madison Sq. Backyard on Jan. 17.
Cities posted an ellipsis on the social platform X Friday evening, with no single phrase.
Cities grew up in Minnesota in a giant manner, getting into the league at age 19. He performed for 5 head coaches and had seven heads of basketball operations over his 9 seasons with the Wolves. The person who drafted him out of Kentucky, Flip Saunders, died of most cancers 4 months later.
Cities received caught up in a character wrestle in 2018 with former teammate and fellow All-Star Jimmy Butler, who requested a commerce after one season and used a scorched-Earth technique of forcing his manner out. Cities discovered the damage bug extra not too long ago, too, with a strained calf limiting him to 29 video games in 2022-23. And his mom’s demise from COVID-19 issues in 2020 took a private toll.
The upside for the 7-footer is a return to his roots, having grown up in New Jersey. He’ll even be reunited with coach Tom Thibodeau, who spent 2 1/2 seasons with Minnesota after being employed in Cities’ second yr.
Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has by no means been afraid of a daring transfer, as he proved by going massive — on the court docket and off — within the Gobert deal. This choice was even larger, because the Wolves put together for the problem of attempting to make it two steps additional within the playoffs whereas the highest groups within the West present no indicators of letting up round them.
The Wolves get a three-time All-Star energy ahead in Randle, plus a sharpshooter in DiVincenzo coming off a career-best season and a first-rounder to offset a few of the draft capital they despatched to Utah within the commerce for Gobert.
Randle’s well being will probably be a storyline to look at through the preseason. He had shoulder surgical procedure in April and was absent for New York’s run to the Jap Convention semifinals. The Knicks stated then that Randle can be re-evaluated in 5 months. Requested final week if Randle can be absolutely prepared for camp, Thibodeau stated, “Uh, yeah, I believe so.”
Warriors star Steph Curry is the highest-paid participant getting into the 2024-25 NBA season. Here is how the remainder of the highest 10 highest-paid gamers pan out, per Spotrac.
With a latest most contract extension for Edwards, the acquisition of Gobert and different costly commitments, the Wolves with Cities have been headed for the second apron of the posh tax that comes with stiff restrictions beneath the brand new collective bargaining settlement. Their possession state of affairs is in flux, too, with longtime proprietor Glen Taylor’s try to halt a protracted sale to companions Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez scheduled for arbitration later this yr.
With the Knicks, Cities can slide again to his unique heart spot and fill a serious want. Mitchell Robinson will probably be out for a minimum of two months, recovering from ankle surgical procedure. Isaiah Hartenstein signed with Oklahoma Metropolis this summer time. That was the one place of weak spot on a deep roster led by All-Star Jalen Brunson.
___
Reynolds reported from Miami. AP Basketball Author Brian Mahoney in New York contributed to this report.