Timberwolves President drops powerful Karl-Anthony Cities admission after commerce

After 9 seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves have traded Karl-Anthony Cities to the New York Knicks in change for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and Keita Bates-Diop, together with a future first-round decide. The commerce finally included the Charlotte Hornets, who obtained Charlie Brown, Duquan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr., and two future second-round picks from the Knicks, whereas receiving a 2025 second-round decide from the Wolves and money concerns. In the meantime, moreover Cities, the Knicks additionally obtained draft rights to James Nnaji, by way of the Hornets.

Buying and selling one of many staff’s pillars each on and off the courtroom wasn’t simple for the Timberwolves, if you happen to requested President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly, although they clearly blindsided Cities, who has by no means requested a commerce even after a number of shedding seasons.

“We do not commerce an individual like KAT calmly,” Connelly stated, by way of a report from Jon Krawczynski for The Athletic. “We have been very particular with what it could take. Fairly frankly, the asking value was very excessive once you see what these guys completed final yr.”

The Timberwolves half with KAT

Earlier than the Knicks commerce, Karl-Anthony Cities’ contract would have compelled the Timberwolves to pay thousands and thousands in luxurious tax to maintain the staff that superior to the Western Convention finals final season.

Furthermore, the staff will need to have felt that they’ve extra upside with Anthony Edwards, who’s solely 23 years outdated however has already confirmed his worth because the staff’s essential man and playoff performer.

They could have figured that having Mike Conley put him in scoring positions is sufficient, whereas Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert lock down the perimeter and the paint.

Furthermore, they will depend on DiVincenzo and Naz Reid to contribute off the bench, although they could give Reid a beginning job, relying on Randle’s play or his chemistry with Edwards.

Nonetheless, shedding a flooring spacer in KAT would sting, as Edwards may not have the identical room to function with Randle holding the ball within the elbow and Gobert roosting within the paint.

How in regards to the Knicks?

In the meantime, Edwards may need overshadowed KAT, however he’s nonetheless a four-time All-Star and among the finest big-man shooters within the league. The Knicks’ perimeter defenders would cowl for his deficiencies, whereas the pick-and-pop/roll sport with Jalen Brunson ought to carve up groups with skinny interiors.

Offensively, Cities is a particular improve over Randle, primarily as a result of KAT has extra vary. Nonetheless, the commerce has depleted the Knicks’ bench, which could possibly be regarding given Tom Thibodeau‘s penchant for taking part in his starters heavy minutes even in comparatively meaningless video games.

KAT’s prior expertise with Thibs ought to allow them to hit the bottom operating, although.

“I do know the offense he likes to run,” Cities stated in a report by Timothy Rapp for Bleacher Report. “I know how he likes to play protection and what he expects from his gamers.”

On paper, the Knicks may need grow to be title contenders whereas the Wolves may need gone down a tier. Nonetheless, video games aren’t received on paper, and we’ll see how each groups carry out subsequent season.