A True Win-Win? The Towns-Randle Trade—Who Really Came Out on Top?

When the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks agreed to a blockbuster trade just before the NBA regular season began, the deal sent shockwaves through the league. The Timberwolves sent their nine-year veteran and offensive star Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick. Many criticized the Timberwolves’ decision, arguing they dismantled a team fresh off its first Western Conference Finals appearance in 20 years by trading away their second-best scorer. To make matters worse, Randle, despite being a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA member, was widely regarded as a less impactful player than Towns.

Now that the regular season is nearly a month old, it’s time to reevaluate this trade. Did Minnesota really make a mistake? Or is there more to this deal than meets the eye?

Karl-Anthony Towns: Thriving in New York

Towns has been nothing short of spectacular since joining the Knicks. Through his first 12 games in New York, he is averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. His scoring is the second-highest of his career and ranks 11th in the league, while his rebounding is a career-best and third in the league. His shooting splits are a remarkable 54.2% from the field, 50.0% from three, and 83.6% from the free-throw line, culminating in a career-high true shooting percentage of 65.6%.

Towns has already delivered several memorable performances for the Knicks. Against the Chicago Bulls, he erupted for 46 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. In a matchup with the Miami Heat, he posted 44 points and 13 rebounds. To put that in perspective, Towns had only two 40-point games in 62 appearances for the Timberwolves last season—he’s already matched that total in just over a dozen games with New York.

Many expected Towns to be a secondary option behind Jalen Brunson, but his early-season dominance has flipped that narrative. His offensive box plus-minus (OBPM) of 6.9 significantly outshines Brunson’s 2.6, making Towns the clear centerpiece of the Knicks’ attack.

However, Towns’ well-known defensive shortcomings have also been on display. Players he directly defends are shooting 7.2% better than their average, including an alarming 69.1% within 10 feet of the basket, up from 59.3% last season. Towns has always been more comfortable as a top defender in certain matchups, especially alongside a strong rim protector like Rudy Gobert in Minnesota. Knicks fans are hopeful that Mitchell Robinson’s eventual return will help address some of these defensive gaps.

Julius Randle: Proving His Worth in Minnesota

Randle has been a pleasant surprise for the Timberwolves. So far, he’s averaging 21.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game—numbers slightly below his last three seasons but still impressive. What stands out is his efficiency: Randle is shooting 50.7% from the field, 38.2% from three, and 82.7% from the free-throw line, with a career-best true shooting percentage of 62.4%, a significant improvement from last year’s 56.2%.

Randle has shown he can step up when needed. In the season’s second game against the Kings, he scored 33 points on 13-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-6 from three, leading the Wolves to victory. More recently, he hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to seal a win over the Suns, finishing with 35 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists.

While Randle’s offensive production has exceeded expectations, his fit on defense has been less ideal. As a player more suited to the three than the four or five positions, he struggles to replicate Towns’ ability to defend traditional bigs. This has exposed some of Gobert’s limitations as a one-on-one defender against skilled centers—most notably when Nikola Vučević dominated the Wolves in a recent matchup. With Towns in the lineup, such situations were easier to manage.

Still, Randle has been a net positive for the Timberwolves. The team has a +4.7 net rating with him on the court compared to -0.6 when he sits, and his cumulative plus-minus of +47 ties him with Gobert for second-best on the team.

Donte DiVincenzo: A Slow Start

DiVincenzo was seen as a key part of this trade, but his performance has yet to meet expectations. He is averaging 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 25.6 minutes per game while shooting just 34.9% from the field, 32.3% from three, and 78.6% from the line. His true shooting percentage of 49.6% is far below last season’s career-high of 59.7%.

Minnesota was excited to acquire DiVincenzo as a versatile player who could complement their core and provide valuable contributions on both ends of the floor. While his performance has been underwhelming so far, his reputation as a reliable role player suggests he may still find his groove. Moreover, his team-friendly contract makes him a valuable trade asset if the Wolves decide to make further moves.

Who Won the Trade?

Evaluating this trade depends on perspective. Both Towns and Randle have delivered performances that arguably exceed expectations, with each playing pivotal roles for their new teams. However, neither the Timberwolves nor the Knicks have seen immediate success in the standings.

The Knicks may have the upper hand in this deal, given Towns’ ability to elevate their ceiling. While his defensive weaknesses remain a concern, they are addressable, especially with players like Mitchell Robinson already on the roster. Towns has also emerged as a true offensive anchor, taking pressure off Brunson and providing New York with a dynamic inside-out scoring threat.

For the Timberwolves, losing Towns has disrupted their elite defensive system from last season, anchored by the Towns-Gobert pairing inside and versatile perimeter defenders like Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. While Randle’s efficient scoring has softened the blow, it’s hard to ignore the gap left by Towns’ size and versatility. DiVincenzo’s struggles further complicate the Wolves’ case, though there’s hope he can rebound as the season progresses.

Ultimately, this trade reflects Minnesota’s financial constraints as much as anything else. With salary flexibility prioritized over retaining Towns, the team made a calculated gamble. Time will tell if it pays off, but for now, it’s hard for Timberwolves fans not to wonder what could have been had the team given its core one more shot.