Timberwolves stun the NBA by sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks

Just days before they open training camp on Tuesday, the Timberwolves made a stunning, franchise-changing move.

The Wolves traded star center Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for All-Star Julius Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick from Detroit.

An NBA source confirmed the trade.

Towns was named a four-time All-Star and was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2015-16 after being selected No. 1 overall by the Wolves. He averaged 22.9 points in nine seasons, ranking second in franchise history behind Kevin Garnett in most major categories.

Towns is considered the NBA’s best three-point shooting center and has a four-year, $220 million contract that begins next season.

Randle, 29, is a three-time All-Star forward who, like Towns, 28, played one season of college basketball at Kentucky before moving on to the NBA. Randle was drafted by the Lakers and played there for four seasons before joining New Orleans as a free agent. After one season with the Pelicans, he signed with the Knicks in 2019.

In New York he became a top scorer and even scored 57 points in a game against the Timberwolves. He underwent shoulder surgery towards the end of last season. Still, the Knicks, under former Wolves coach Tom Thibideau, made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing to Indiana in seven games.

Randle has a four-year, $117 million contract that runs through 2025-26. He averaged 25.1 points two seasons ago and a career-high 24.0 points last year.