In one of many extra stunning offseason Friday information dumps in current NBA reminiscence, the Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly sending Karl-Anthony Cities to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a protected first-round decide.
Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic broke the information {that a} deal was shut, after which got here in excessive for the largest scoop up to now of the the new, post-Woj reporting world to verify the commerce was certainly finished:
The Hornets are additionally concerned within the deal, strictly to make the cash work and get a decide for his or her troubles:
However the decide going to Minnesota? It’s not a assure to convey, because it’s protected if it lands…
- 1-13 in 2025
- 1-11 in 2026
- 1-9 in 2027
…and if it has not been despatched to the Wolves by 2027, then it turns into a second-rounder. So given the Pistons’ present scenario, it’s not clear the Wolves even bought an actual first-round decide right here — are you optimistic Detroit received’t be one of many 9 worst groups within the league in 2027? — so this needed to a minimum of be {a partially} financially motivated transfer on Minnesota’s half, designed to clear KAT’s long-term deal off their books and exchange it with DiVincenzo’s manageable, descending contract, and Randle’s (probably) expiring one (he has a participant possibility for subsequent summer season price $30 million):
The Minnesota Timberwolves stand to avoid wasting $26.5 million in payroll and luxurious tax penalties if they do not tackle any extra salaries on this commerce.
They’re nonetheless set to be over the $188.9 million second apron this season. They’re $14.5 million above it with 15 gamers.
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) September 28, 2024
The timing of the commerce definitely fascinating for the Wolves.
The transfer might save the Wolves upwards of $50 million in luxurious tax $ this season and drastically improves the chances Naz Reid stays in Minnesota long-term.
DDV/NAW/TSJ is a really enjoyable wing trio https://t.co/PRR5YSpf9g
— Jack Borman (@jrborman13) September 28, 2024
KAT evidently has emotions on the transfer, and whereas it’s TBD if his thinly veiled subtweets (and the next leaks about his perspective) are extra in regards to the Wolves transport him at midnight proper earlier than camp, or any sick emotions in direction of his new vacation spot, it definitely confirms we’re going to be seeing and desirous about the off-court ramifications of this commerce for some time too:
One factor to be clear on tonight: KAT didn’t request this commerce. He by no means has requested a transfer in 9 years right here.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 28, 2024
The phrase from the Cities camp is that this: “Shocked.”
9 years with the Wolves. Impeccable locally. All-Star and All-NBA. Now a New York Knick.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) September 28, 2024
Karl-Anthony Cities is “nonetheless processing” this commerce, in line with a supply near him. However it’s price nothing Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has been publicly very complimentary of him since he left Minnesota—one thing that’s been famous by Cities. https://t.co/Yysccrbne6
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) September 28, 2024
First response? Pour one out for the Superfriends period in New York. Not even Villanova connections might preserve DiVincenzo from getting despatched to Minnesota to make contracts match because the Knicks get the star heart they’ve been on the lookout for. Changing his contributions on the court docket will probably be one thing New York can probably handle, however changing the chemistry factors he brings to the locker room? TBD.
Second response? It’s so unusual to see two groups coming off convention finals bids make player-for-player trades with one another, seemingly motivated extra by funds for one facet. Normally star trades contain one heading to a different group in pick-heavy package deal, not one group sending out a former All-Star to avoid wasting money whereas nonetheless making an attempt to contend.
However the Wolves have been set to face historic luxurious tax funds to maintain their Western Convention Finals core of KAT (who’s due greater than $200 million over the subsequent 4 years), Rudy Gobert ($43 million this 12 months, $46 million subsequent) and Anthony Edwards (about to begin his personal max extension nearing $50 million yearly). And whereas in a messy possession dispute between two sides that each seem gentle on money, it seems like they made a name that maintaining their two-big frontcourt wasn’t definitely worth the hefty second apron penalties they’d must pay to take action, and can hope Randle can replicate sufficient of KAT’s skillset to get by (in addition to that offloading Cities’ deal permits them to maintain the remainder of their frontcourt collectively):
It is price noting that Rudy Gobert is presently extension-eligible. He has a $46.7 million participant possibility for subsequent season and will lengthen at a decrease beginning wage.
That chance, together with Karl Anthony-Cities’ contract off the books, would go away the Timberwolves in a a lot… https://t.co/hr8uUG33t0
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) September 28, 2024
For the Knicks, it seems they’re all-in to pay any worth to convey New York a title round Jalen Brunson’s unprecedented contract sacrifice. As soon as they get previous any unhappy emotions about dropping one in every of their Villanova infinity stones, Cities offers them precisely the type of spacing, offensively expert massive that would take their offense up a degree to interrupt by means of within the Japanese Convention. He’s definitely an costly remaining piece, however he’s additionally one which could possibly be massively overqualified for the position New York wants from him. And as final 12 months’s traditionally costly and deep Boston Celtics group confirmed, when a company is loading as much as make a run at a title, they will’t pinch pennies. No less than on first look, it could seem New York is aware of that, and that it’s a secondary precedence for Minnesota.