Did the New York Knicks make the right move? The question will now be on everyone’s lips as the franchise possibly made one of the most dramatic trades of the off-season by bringing in Karl-Anthony Towns. In exchange, the Minnesota Timberwolves are set to receive Julius Randle, who was rumored to be on the chopping block for quite some time now, and Donte DiVincenzo. The Knicks would possibly be getting an unwilling star, as ‘The Athletic’ reporter Jon Krawczynski was quick to point out that “KAT did not request this trade. He never has requested a move in nine years here.” In addition, the franchise has made the trade by sacrificing one of their longest-serving players and preventing a much-awaited reunion between Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, DiVincenzo, and Josh Hart. Therefore, the question needs to be asked.

It may be too soon to expect an answer. However, there is no denying that the Knicks-Timberwolves trade will have a major effect on how the two teams perform during the upcoming season. Therefore, without any further ado, let us look into what can be expected from the New York franchise going forward.

What is the updated roster and projected lineups for the New York Knicks?

Karl-Anthony Towns will be joining the New York Knicks as a center. During the nine years that he spent with the Timberwolves, he has proven himself to be a dependable individual on the offensive side, averaging 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over the course of 573 games. The franchise may need him to solve its ‘Center Predicament.’ If he does, then the starting five, or projected lineup, for the upcoming Knicks games will be:

Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Isaiah Hartenstein left the Knicks and joined OKC, leaving the team in a dilemma. The fact that Mitchell Robinson continues to recover from his ankle injuries does not make things better. According to reports, head coach Tom Thibodeau is someone who likes to place a focus on player size. When it came to Julius Randle, his 6’8″ was adequate. However, he reportedly struggled when it came to defense and jump shots. He was reportedly more of a floor-raiser than a ceiling-raiser. With the franchise already having stars like Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby, the need was for someone who would raise the maximum potential of the team.

Karl-Anthony Towns comes as a big help here. He can occupy both the center and power forward positions. Along with a 7-foot build that helps in single coverage and transition, he can be relied on the shooting front too. After all, the last season saw him averaging 7.7-15.3 (50.4%) field goals, and 4.1-4.7 (87.3%) free throws. He also accompanied that with 2.2-5.3 (41.6%) three-pointers. Therefore, with Randle gone, he may very well occupy the primary center position, potentially demoting Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein.

With Julius Randle gone, a noticeable gap remains in the power forward position. In light of this, Precious Achiuwa, who was the secondary power forward, should have been the one to step up. However, his stats aren’t convincing. After all, when starting in 18 of the 74 games during the previous season, he only averaged 7.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

Therefore, according to reports, the person to step up would possibly be Josh Hart. While he was the primary small forward during the previous season, he also led the Knicks in rebounding. On top of that, Hart covered for Randle after he was declared out of the main lineup due to injuries. His average of 8.3 rebounds wasn’t as high as Randle’s 9.2, or Robinson’s 8.5, but he appeared in more games combined than his two teammates. With the franchise placing emphasis on playing at the halfcourt too often, the 29-year-old’s reported ‘one-man fastbreak opportunities’ can influence the needed pace during gameplay.

Donte DiVincenzo’s exit would have developed the need for a main shooting guard. Fortunately, the Knicks had already secured a replacement two months ago, when they brought in Mikal Bridges. In exchange, the Brooklyn Nets received Bojan Bogdanović, Shake Milton, Mamadi Diakite, and a couple of trade picks.

Hart’s potential shift to the power forward position would have possibly allowed Donte DiVincenzo to step up from his secondary small forward position. However, with him also having departed for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the position now falls upon the tertiary option: OG Anunoby.

With no other major change, Jalen Brunson will stay on as the primary point guard. Just as he has since his entry into the franchise back in 2022.

What will be the depth chart for the New York Knicks going into the 2024-25 season?

With the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns, the exit of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, and all the changes that have accompanied the Knicks will be a different team heading into the 2024-25 season. Therefore, their updated roster could look something like this:

What are your thoughts on the new changes? Do you believe that Karl-Anthony Towns would adjust well after spending the entirety of his nine-year career with a different franchise? Let us know in the comments down below.

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