Timberwolves See Early Dividends from Last Summer’s Julius Randle Trade
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CONTENT:
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ decision to ship Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round pick last offseason is paying off as training camp approaches.
The deal, completed before the 2024-25 campaign, trimmed roughly $5 million from Minnesota’s 2024-25 cap sheet compared with Towns’ salary, easing luxury-tax pressure and helping the club avoid the league’s second tax apron. That flexibility allowed the front office to keep key contracts for Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid intact.
Randle ended last season on a high note, highlighted by a standout first-round playoff performance against the Los Angeles Lakers. He now projects as a front-court anchor alongside Gobert and Reid, with rookie big man Joan Beringer—selected 20th overall with the conveyed Detroit pick—expected to spend time both with the Iowa Wolves of the G League and as a reserve in Minneapolis.
DiVincenzo’s debut season in Minnesota was uneven, but the guard flashed potential during a six-game stretch in which he handled point-guard duties, averaging 17.5 points and shooting 42 percent from three-point range. With 38-year-old Mike Conley entering the final seasons of his career, DiVincenzo will compete for a larger role in the backcourt, while second-year guard Rob Dillingham remains a developmental option for a team with championship aspirations.
By the numbers
- Cap savings: Randle’s 2024-25 salary is about $5 million less than Towns’ number.
- DiVincenzo scoring burst: 17.5 PPG on 42 percent from deep over six games.
- Draft return: The Detroit pick conveyed at No. 20, used on Joan Beringer.
- Core preserved: McDaniels, Gobert and Reid retained with new or existing deals.
The full impact of last summer’s blockbuster will begin to unfold when the Timberwolves open camp, but early indicators suggest the move has delivered the balance and depth the front office sought.
Source: Hoops Wire
