The Karl -Anthony Towns trade: How will this affect your draft?

10/05/2024

Recently there was a major blockbuster trade in the NBA. Karl-Anthony Towns was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVicenzo. While this trade was questionable at best for both teams, we're not going through the trade breakdown. What we here are doing is deciding how this trade will affect fantasy basketball this season. 

Last season with the Timberwolves, Towns averaged 21.8/8.3/3.0 while shooting 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from the three point line. Towns was a huge part that the Timberwolves made it to the Western Conference Finals, where they eventually lost to the Dallas Mavericks. Towns is currently being selected around 30th in the draft boards and the about the sixth highest center off the board. With this trade, we expect Towns' stats to actually improve, as this Knicks offense has always needed a center that can space the floor. 

With the Knicks last year, Julius Randle only played 46 games due to injury at the end of the season. Last seasons injuries will have no affect on this season though as Randle is still playing his best basketball yet. In those 46 games last year Randle put up 24/9.2/5 and was elected to his third All-Star appearance in four years. He will be no problem and will actually fit the four spot very well for the Timberwolves. This might be a bounceback year for Randle, and don't be surprised if he goes for 25+ PPG. 

Donte DiVicenzo was a starter/sixth man for the Knicks last season, and he "balled out" to say the least. He averaged 15.5/3.7/2.7 and was a highly effective all around, with him also averaging over a steal per game. DiVicenzo was huge for the Knicks in the stretch and in the postseason, and he was also big in the fantasy playoffs. He is likely going to have around the same role with the Timberwolves and he fits their persona well of beign a great defensive team who can also score a bucket.