Did Karl-Anthony Towns know he was getting traded? That is the big question on every hoop fanatic’s mind after the Timberwolves stunned everyone by dealing their All-Star Center to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. With his new four-year $224 million contract coming into effect this season, Towns thought his future was secure in Minnesota despite their ownership dilemma. So, you can imagine the shock when he realized that his time with the team was over. Moreover, he reportedly had no idea about his ambiguous future!

As per the latest report by veteran insider Evan Sidery, the Wolves never gave KAT a heads-up about him potentially getting traded. The Center often visited the team’s practice facility to work out and prepare for the upcoming season. But only weeks away from tip-off, Towns was completely thrown off guard by Alex Rodriguez and Co.’s unexpected move.

Shocked by the news like everyone else, the Center was left completely speechless and expressed his disbelief with his latest tweet, which only had three dots “…”

Moreover, the blockbuster trade comes months after it was reported that Wolves’ minority owners A-Rod and Marc Lore planned on making “sizable” reductions in their payroll once they take control from Glen Taylor. Well, their aim was to fall under the luxury tax threshold and avoid penalties. However, Taylor pulled out of their 2021 deal worth $1.5 billion, claiming that A-Rod and Lore failed to meet the terms of the agreement on time. While the dispute headed to arbitration and Taylor continues to be the team’s majority owner, the KAT trade does follow Alex’s cost-cutting vision. With Randle’s contract expiring in 2026 and Donte owed only $36 million for the next three years, getting rid of Towns’ $224 million brings massive relief to the Wolves owners’ pockets.

Who will replace Karl-Anthony Towns to help the Wolves’ title pursuit?

Now that KAT has been traded, there might be a huge void in the Wolves’ roster. Sure enough, he was a multi-time All-Star and a consistent 20+ points scorer. But the team has multiple options to replace him. Obviously, they have the four-time DPOY Rudy Gobert who is comfortable at the Center spot and has become the defensive anchor of the team in just two seasons. Just last season, he averaged 14 points and nearly thirteen rebounds to help the Wolves reach the West Finals.

Meanwhile, they also have Naz Reid who has spent his entire career coming off the bench. However, he has been highly impressive in his role and even bagged the Sixth Man of the Year trophy this year. With KAT gone, there could be a massive upgrade in his usage rate and Reid could even be bumped to the starter role if needed.

Moreover, they have also added Julius Randle who is a superstar at the forward position. Yes, he was injured for most of last season and is coming off a major surgery. But Randle is a multi-time All-Star who can easily contribute on both ends of the floor. With so much talent on their roster, the Wolves might not find it difficult to replace Towns after all. Do you think the trade gets them closer to winning a championship?