Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill reacts to the blockbuster deal that sends the big man from Minnesota to the Big Apple — in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first round pick — and what it means for the race for Eastern Conference supremacy.
Video Transcript
The New York Knicks are going all in for a trip to the NBA finals this year, acquiring Carl Anthony Towns for the Minnesota Timberwolves for Julius Randall Dante DiVincenzo and a first round draft pick.
Carl Townes will be starting a $220 million contract extension this season.
So after nine years in Minnesota, he goes to New York where he will reunite with Tom Thibodeau, who was his coach for a few years in Minnesota not too long ago, maybe it’ll go different this time after seeing Towns play alongside Rudy Gobert and display some defensive capabilities that helped the Timberwolves get to the Western conference finals this past season.
Thomas can spread the floor and he can play alongside Mikel Bridges, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
It’s an interesting mix that they have there, especially when you consider Mitchell Robinson being out for an extended period of time following yet another surgery wilt be more defensively inclined this time around, especially with O Giana, Noy and Bridges and Brunson and Hart and those guys playing so very tough on the perimeter.
He’s gonna have to go against the likes of Joel and Bead and everybody with the Boston Celtics.
It seemed like he had found his footing, playing next to Gobert, playing next to Anthony Edwards for a Timberwolves franchise that had embraced him from the moment he was drafted, Julius Randall goes over there and you’re wondering how he fits alongside Anthony Edwards.
But it was clear the Knicks were not completely sold on Julius Randall’s fit alongside this iteration of the Knicks either way.
According to some in the NBA, neither side believes this is going to be much of a needle pusher.
It’s just a salary dump for the Timberwolves and a surprising move.
But for the Knicks, it’s acquiring a big name.
It just doesn’t seem like it’s going to push them over the top when you consider how great the Boston Celtics were last season.
If nothing else, you can say the Knicks are going for it.