Fantasy Basketball: Karl-Anthony Towns is in position to benefit from the Knicks

The New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves are in the process of finalizing a blockbuster transaction deal to acquire All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday night. This deal will likely have a significant impact on fantasy basketball.

The trade would send Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the North Star State while Towns would head to the Big Apple. The Timberwolves also receive a 2025 top-13 protected first-round pick from the Knicks via the Detroit Pistons. According to sources, the Charlotte Hornets are the third team in the deal and are set to receive draft compensation.

How will the trade work for both teams involved? Let's take a look.

Can cities thrive in New York?

The Knicks had a clear need at center, especially with Isaiah Hartenstein traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Mitchell Robinson sidelined until December after ankle surgery. New York faced a center rotation with Precious Achiuwa, Jericho Sims and Julius Randle. Now they would have one of the best centers in the league in Towns, who also has the versatility to play as a power forward when needed.

Last season, Towns averaged 21.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.0 APG and 2.2 three-pointers in 32.7 minutes per game. From a fantasy perspective, the biggest advantage is that he no longer has to share the floor with Rudy Gobert, who limited his ceiling. Reuniting with head coach Tom Thibodeau could also increase Towns' value. From 2016 to early 2019, he averaged 23.0 PPG and 12.3 RPG in 204 games under Thibodeau, becoming one of only three players during that span to record at least 4,000 points and 2,000 rebounds. Towns has the potential to once again provide fantastic value in the first round, similar to his performance before sharing the spot with Gobert.

Towns tends to have problems defensively, but those problems can be solved with the right personnel, and the Knicks have that. With strong fullbacks like OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Miles McBride, Towns joins an ideal roster that complements his skill set and allows him to thrive as a big man in more aggressive defensive systems.

Randle's departure frees up 35.4 minutes per game, and one player who could benefit immediately is Hart. Last season, he averaged 9.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.1 APG and 1.0 SPG while shooting 43.4% from the field. Hart is one of the best pure rebounders in the league, and if his shooting improves, his fantasy value could increase significantly. Unlike Achiuwa, Hart is able to consistently contribute across multiple stat categories. The Knicks player most affected by this trade is Robinson. The center isn't expected to play until next year while he recovers from an ankle injury. He had a chance to play significant minutes, but Robinson's injury history likely prompted Thibodeau and Co. to make this move.

How do Randle and DiVincenzo fit together in Minnesota?

The Timberwolves would be signing two players who should fit seamlessly into their rotation. Randle averaged 24.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 5.0 APG in 46 games for the Knicks last season before suffering a shoulder injury. Even playing alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, he should be able to maintain those averages in Minnesota. However, I have a few concerns. Over the last five seasons, Randle averaged 8.3 isolations per game, the fourth-most in the league during that span. With Edwards in the lineup, he may not get as many iso plays.

I'll be interested to see if Randle attempts more threes with the Timberwolves as his isolation capabilities diminish. Last season, only 21% of his points came from beyond the arc. Another issue is Randle's tendency to take questionable shots and dribble into traffic. That's something he'll need to sharpen in Minnesota. Randle also has a history with Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, who previously coached him as an assistant with the Pelicans during the 2018-2019 season.

DiVincenzo brings value as one of the best shooting guards off the bench to a Timberwolves team that needs him now after the loss to Towns. Last season, he averaged 15.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.7 APG and 1.3 SPG in 29.1 minutes. DiVincenzo also posted a 21.8% usage rate, the highest of his career, and ranked third in the league in three-pointers made, behind only Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry. He's fully capable of making an impact, even as a backup, and should be targeted in fantasy drafts near the double-digit rounds.

Naz Reid should also benefit from Town's departure. He should play plenty of minutes at power forward and center. Reid won the Sixth Man of the Year award last season, becoming the first Timberwolves player to do so. He posted career highs in nearly every category, including 13.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 BPG and 1.0 SPG while shooting 41.4% from three-point range. Reid could be an ideal partner for Gobert if they share the spot. Regardless of whether he's in the starting lineup or not, Reid is a player fantasy managers should target in double figures.

Are the Knicks legitimate contenders in 2024-25?

The Knicks were already a contender in the East before adding Bridges this summer. Now, with Towns on board, New York is even better positioned to compete with other top teams and potentially dethrone the Boston Celtics. They have built one of the most impressive starting lineups in the league, but have used up most of their assets and roster flexibility to do so. It is critical for New York to capitalize on this window of opportunity and I believe we will see that urgency on the court.

The Knicks were at +800 to win the NBA title on ESPN BET before the trade, and their odds rose to +750 after the deal, behind only the defending champion Celtics (+340) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (+700). .

As the season approaches, betting on the Knicks winning the championship (+750) and over 54.5 wins (-130) could be a good move.

This team is built for a strong playoff run and has a real chance in its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.