“One thing to be clear on tonight: KAT did not request this trade. He never has requested a move in 9 years here.” The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski made this remark after the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a lot more. The whole NBA community was shocked at the news broke about this trade. A league source also reportedly mentioned that KAT was “stunned”, as we can assume after he took to his X, and cryptically wrote: “…”.

The Julius Randle vs Karl-Anthony Towns debate will now be the talk of the town for quite some time. While the former had shoulder surgery for the third time in the previous campaign, there’s absolutely no doubt about their resumes. Randle, an All-Star who can easily contribute on both ends of the floor, while KAT was a consistent 20+ points scorer for the Wolves.

In this analysis, we dig into the illustrious careers of Karl-Anthony Towns and Julius Randle, as we intend to acquire an understanding of their respective journeys and key aspects, such as the hoopers’ achievements and impact on the court.

KAT and Julius Randle’s numbers- Key additions to their new franchises, despite injury concerns

Ever since KAT was selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, he has played for the Timberwolves in his 9-year career. After missing a large portion of the 2022–23 season because of a knee injury, he returned to All-Star form last season, averaging 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds. Despite suffering a left meniscus injury in March this year, the hooper played a huge role in helping maintain their top 3 spot in a cut-throat Western Conference. As he now gears up to pair with Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards‘ scoring partner left behind a respectable stat line, averaging 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, in 34.0 minutes across 9 seasons.

Julius Randle’s fifth year with the Knicks was troubled by injuries, which allowed him to play just 46 games. He averaged 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5 assists. According to ESPN’s Chris Herring, the hooper said “his recovery is going well, and he’s expected to be ready to play by or near the start of the season.” A 3x All-star, Randle’s shoulder got injured in the game against the Miami Heat on January 27. The 29-year-old forward through his Knicks tenure (2019-24), averaged 35.3 minutes, 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists and had led the Knicks to three playoff appearances since he joined the organization. Julius Randle is a year older than KAT, however, both of them are injury-prone, a crucial factor for their new teams to consider.

Who gets paid more — Julius Randle or Karl-Anthony Towns?

Karl-Anthony Towns has a cap hit of $49.2 million for the 2024-25 season, while Julius Randle will cash out a $28.9 million paycheck this season. The Kentucky Alum is a 4x All-Star and 2x All-NBA pick. As far as talent goes, he’s easily the most talented hooper changing teams, proving his worth by all means. The 7-footer had initially given his nod to a $25.7 million deal as a rookie from 2015-18, then he signed a 5-year $158.2 million extension. Towns’ last noted upgrade was a $220 million max extension that was beginning this season.

Julius Randle joined the Knicks as a free agent in July 2019 when he signed a three-year, $62.1 million contract, then he agreed to a four-year, $117 million extension with the Knicks before the start of the 2021-22 season that tied him to the team through 2024-25. Despite the injury concerns last season, he’s still a fine player who can be an amazing contributor to a playoff team. The Minnesota side led by Anthony Edwards, who needs floor space, will benefit from his skill set as they pursue an NBA Finals spot.

The reason behind the trade of Karl-Anthony Towns is his team’s salary cap, which took the Minnesota Timberwolves above the $188.9 million second apron as projected per the updated Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) guidelines. This position, in the long run, would have cost the franchise a big amount in fines and taxes, also potentially hindering their trade abilities.

How do you feel about this trade? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.