While Paul George and Klay Thompson took over the off-season with their trade updates, they might have some real competition. The New York Knicks, which surprised everyone by paying a heavy price for Mikal Bridges, have turned the clock around with their latest Julius Randle trade. Most importantly, the Big Apple side may have found a perfect winning combination heading into the fresh season. What is this all about?

Well, reports suggest that the Knicks acquired the four-time All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns from the Timberwolves in exchange for forward Julius Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick via Detroit Pistons!

What’s interesting is that Towns spent his nine years with the Wolves, ever since his 2015 NBA Draft. Though he missed major parts of the 2022-23 season because of his knee injury, he came back strong in 2023-24 and averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Sources say he was stunned by the trade because the player was working out in his team’s practice facility this week toward something much bigger. The Wolves were coming off an appearance in the Western Conference finals and Towns thought he was a big part of their plan to go further this season. On the other hand, Julius Randle may feel relieved even though he had a similar situation to Towns.

After a 5-season-long journey with the Knicks, averaging consistently above 20 ppg, the star power forward couldn’t move the needle at the concrete jungle. Above all, pundits raised a series of questions regarding Randle’s role in the side following Jalen Brunson’s dominant stretch.

A league source shared information about these trades with The Athletic.

Let us not forget that the Knicks have roped in forward Mikal Bridges. So while the team has him, Randle is yet to return to the court from the shoulder injury that he sustained last season. This also makes us think about how his half-court scoring could really help the Wolves’s offense against the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals. The basketball player can also become a free agent in the summer by opting out of his $30.3 million option for 2025-26.

Who benefits from the trade? Karl-Anthony Towns or Julius Randle?

It’s both stars who have their fair share of gain from this situation. Looking at Julius Randle, who is post-dominant and uses his size in the interior, may have found a perfect partner. Ant-Man, despite his size, looks to dominate the paint with his aggressive athleticism. One may say that this combination wouldn’t work, considering their similar nature on the court. But Edwards has improved his shooting skills from the perimeter. He recorded an impressive 48% 3-pt FG during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Now Randle has a true shooting percentage of 50.9 percent, 58.1 percent, and 56.9 percent in the last three seasons. So, when the duo has the combination of both aggressiveness and shooting skills, it’s truly a win-win situation for the Wolves.

On the other hand, Karl-Anthony Towns may have found a point guard with similar skills. Despite his 7-foot frame, Towns also focused on his perimeter shooting and also relied on his jumpers and faders. Similarly, Jalen Brunson is a skillful finisher and is great at changing speeds. He can also pierce through the defense for a slam jam whenever required, so the Knicks also seemed to have found a winning combination.

Nevertheless, everything might look good on paper, but it is still a formula until it is executed on the court. What do you think?

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.