CHARLESTON, SC — Karl-Anthony Towns said goodbye to the Timberwolves organization and Minnesota region in post on social media Wednesday, minutes after his trade to the New York Knicks became official and paved the way for him to join his new teammates in training camp.
“To the Timberwolves Family: Nine years ago, I arrived in Minnesota as a young man with a dream. Little did I know that this place would become my home, and its people would become my family. Your love, support and unwavering loyalty fueled my journey. and inspired me to be the best player I could be,” the four-time All-Star wrote on X, along with an accompanying video. “You will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you for everything.”
To the Timberwolves Family:
Nine years ago, I arrived in Minnesota as a young man with a dream. Little did I know that this place would become my home, and its people would become my family. Your love, support and unwavering loyalty fueled my journey and inspired me to be… pic.twitter.com/PP1pGzvGcx
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) 2 October 2024
With the three-team blockbuster trade between the Wolves, Knicks and Charlotte Hornets at last completeTowns can now begin working with his New York teammates, while two-time All-NBA forward Julius Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo, the other players in the deal, can begin playing with Minnesota. Charlotte acquired some future second-round picks to step in to make the deal work financially.
Towns was photographed earlier this week wearing a Knicks throwback cap at the team’s practice facility in suburban New York. He is expected to speak to the media in Charleston, where the Knicks are holding training camp, on Thursday for the first time since the trade.
The Knicks were somewhat muted on the subject of Cities earlier in the week with the trade incomplete. But slowly they said more about the different ways he figures to open up the team’s offense with his floor-spacing ability as a sharp big man.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who previously coached Towns in Minnesota, suggested his club could build on last season’s top-10 offense by playing more five-outside basketball this season.
And Knicks captain Jalen Brunson admitted he’s starting to think about how the move could change his plan of attack with opposing clubs.
“Yeah, I thought about it,” Brunson said of the potential for him and Towns to wreak havoc as a duo in pick-and-rolls. “When you add shooting, it opens things up. It adds another weapon and another way for us to exploit defenses.”
The Wolves and Knicks, who each finished with more than 50 wins last season, are scheduled to play each other in their preseason finale at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 13.
