NBA insider Bill Simmons believes that New York had concerns about how Julius Randle might fit into the team, leading the franchise to use him as a trade piece for a blockbuster deal to acquire Wolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns.
“I feel like there were some real chemistry concerns with Randle,” Simmons said of the trade on his show. “Bringing him in as kind of the odd man out on this Villanova 4 team. He’s over there, underpaid for being a top 50 guy. He’s going to have to play out of position, with [Jalen] Brunson likely dominating the ball. Clearly, there was something they didn’t like.”
29-year-old Randle will bring experience to the Timberwolves, joining veterans Joe Ingles and Mike Conley in the team’s championship pursuit.
The trade could benefit the Knicks, as they now have a big man who can compete with the likes of Joel Embiid and Kristaps Porzingis in the Eastern Conference.
However, for KAT, the center position may only be temporary until injured Mitchell Robinson returns.
In the previous season, Towns played a crucial role in the team’s success alongside Anthony Edwards. While Minnesota did give up Towns in the trade, they acquired sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo.
DiVincenzo made 283 three-pointers last season, joining an elite group of players such as Steph Curry, James Harden, and Luka Doncic who have made 280+ threes in a season. His presence on the court with Edwards could create a potent scoring duo.
