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 out 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 start a $220 million contract extension this season.
So after nine years in Minnesota, he goes to New York where he will be reunited with Tom Thibodeau, who was his coach for a few years in Minnesota not too long ago, maybe it will be different this time after seeing Towns play alongside Rudy Gobert. and show off some defensive skills that helped the Timberwolves reach 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 they have there, especially when you consider Mitchell Robinson being out for an extended period of time after yet another surgery more defensively inclined this time, especially with O Giana, Noy and Bridges and Brunson and Hart and those. guys playing so very tough on the perimeter.
He will have to go against the likes of Joel and Bead and everyone with the Boston Celtics.
He seemed to find his place, playing next to Gobert, playing next to Anthony Edwards for a Timberwolves franchise that embraced him from the moment he was drafted, Julius Randall goes there and you wonder how he fits in alongside Anthony Edwards. .
But it was clear that the Knicks weren’t completely sold on the fit of Julius Randall along with this iteration of the Knicks on every front.
According to some in the NBA, neither side believes that will be much of a needle.
It’s just a salary dump for the Timberwolves and a surprising move.
But for the Knicks, it gets 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 tell the Knicks are going for it.
