ESPN’s Bobby Marks weighs in on Wolves-Knicks blockbuster trade involving KAT, Randle and DiVincenzo

As the blockbuster Wolves-Knicks trade nears official completion, we spoke with former Nets general manager and ESPN analyst Bobby Marks.

The Wolves are sending Karl-Anthony Towns to New York in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft pick in a franchise change.

***Click on the video box above to watch Darren Wolfson talk with Marks***

Towns, who is active in the Twin Cities community, willing to defer the alpha role to young star Anthony Edwards and unbothered by the move to the power forward role following the acquisition of center Rudy Gobert two years ago, didn’t seem to see this move coming. three days before the start of training camp.

In an interview with the AP earlier this week about a youth center his late mother Jackie helped build in his native Dominican Republic, Towns had nothing but excitement about the upcoming season and Minnesota’s outlook beyond 2023-24. The breakthrough resulted in a five-game loss to Dallas in the conference finals.

“We showed our merit last season,” Towns said. “We showed our growth and I think more importantly we showed maturity. We found a way to show that we belong. I’m proud of what we were able to do last year. We won’t surprise anyone. I think we showed that we are definitely a team you should take into consideration. “When you see us on the calendar, you have to give your best.”

The Wolves will certainly have to be at their best when they host the Knicks on December 19th. Minnesota will play an exhibition game in New York on October 13 and at Madison Square Garden on January 17 during the regular season.

Towns posted an ellipsis on the social platform on Friday night

Towns developed greatly in Minnesota and entered the league at age 19. During his nine seasons with the Wolves, he played under five head coaches and performed seven basketball operations. Flip Saunders, who drafted him out of Kentucky, died of cancer four months later.

Towns was caught up in a personality battle with former teammate and fellow All-Star Jimmy Butler in 2018; Jimmy Butler had requested a trade after one season and used the scorched earth method to push himself out. Towns only recently became aware of the injury bug, with a calf strain limiting him to 29 games in the 2022-23 season. And his mother’s death from COVID-19 complications in 2020 had a negative personal impact.

The advantage for the 7-footer is that it’s a return to his roots growing up in New Jersey. He will also be reunited with coach Tom Thibodeau, who spent 2 1/2 seasons in Minnesota after being hired in Towns’ second year.

Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has never been afraid of a bold move, as he proved by taking big steps both on and off the court in the Gobert deal. The decision was even bigger as Wolves prepared to challenge to go two steps further in the play-offs, with the top teams in the West showing no signs of giving up.

The Wolves get a three-time All-Star power forward in Randle, plus a sharpshooter having the best season of his career in DiVincenzo and a first-rounder to offset some of the draft capital they sent to Utah in the Gobert trade.

Randle’s health will be a story to watch in the preseason. He had shoulder surgery in April and missed New York’s Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks said Randle will be re-evaluated in five months. “Yeah, I think so,” Thibodeau said last week when asked if Randle would be fully ready for camp.

With the recent maximum contract extension for Edwards, the buyout of Gobert and other expensive commitments, the Wolves with Towns are headed for the second apron of the luxury tax, which comes with strict restrictions under the new collective bargaining agreement. Ownership situations are also changing; There is an attempt by longtime owner Glen Taylor to stop the long-term sale to partners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, which is scheduled to go to arbitration later this year.

Towns could return to his original center spot with the Knicks and fill a major need. Mitchell Robinson will be out for at least two months due to ankle surgery. Isaiah Hartenstein signed with Oklahoma City this summer. It was the only weak spot on a deep roster led by All-Star Jalen Brunson.

The Associated Press contributed to this report