Towns: Stunned Upon Learning of Trade, Sees Many Opportunities in New York

On October 5th, Karl-Anthony Towns was clearly taken aback by the trade that sent him from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the New York Knicks.

Earlier, when asked about his initial reaction to learning about the trade, Towns said, “Shocked, very shocked, maybe ‘stunned’ is a better word. Just very shocked.”

Nonetheless, Towns added that his previous relationship with Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau—Thibodeau coached him for two and a half years in Minnesota—should help him integrate better into the Knicks lineup.

“I think it gives us a little bit of a head start,” Towns told reporters. “I know how he likes to run his offense. I also know his defensive style, as well as what he expects from players.”

Towns will form a formidable starting lineup with Jalen Brunson, Hart, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby, which will allow the Knicks to space the floor since all five are legitimate three-point shooting threats, creating more opportunities for Brunson’s drives.

Towns said, “We have a lot of great players, and if we stick together and consistently perform at our best during training, every day, we can accomplish many things.”

Last season, Towns averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, shooting 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from beyond the arc, earning his fourth All-Star selection.

He should provide the Knicks with a powerful second option on offense behind Brunson, and the pick-and-roll plays between him and Brunson will be very interesting. Of course, there are other concerns following the trade. Towns is not a strong defensive presence, which could be an issue for the defensively-minded coach Thibodeau, though perhaps the presence of Hart, Bridges, and Anunoby can alleviate some of these concerns.