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New blow for the Knicks after the arrival of Bridges and the confirmation of Anunoby: this is how Thibodeau enters the title fight

September 28th – 1.40pm – MILAN

Karl-Anthony Towns in New York, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in Minneapolis. A last minute exchange of big names, which is completed 48 hours before the Knicks and Wolves media day, from their respective meetings at the start of the NBA season. After so many summer rumors the two big men, given up for months as starters especially for reasons of team fit, after all we are talking about two All Stars, are really packing their bags. Minny also gets a nice tip: Big Ragu, the red-haired guard with Italian origins, and a protected top 13 first pick of the 2025 draft, who comes to the Timberwolves via the Detroit Pistons. Also involved in the trade are the Charlotte Hornets, who will receive compensation from the Draft for making it work salary-wise.

KNICKS PERSPECTIVE

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They had already been major players on the market by bringing Mikal Bridges to Manhattan and renewing OG Anunoby. But they desperately needed a center, thanks to the injury to Mitchell Robinson, who underwent ankle surgery, who will not be ready for at least the first two months of the 2024-25 season, which starts on October 22, and the non-renewal of Isaiah’s contract Hartenstein who asked for the moon and then ended up in Oklahoma City. Now they have it. For today and tomorrow: Towns is under contract for four years. The Knicks quintet is now perfectly balanced: Bridges next to Jalen Brunson, the franchise man, on the perimeter, Josh Hart and Anunoby as wings, Towns as a long man, under the basket. Two great scorers, Brunson and KAT, and three great defenders. Towns, who had not requested the trade, is not a lion in terms of character, but will have his back covered by a team of warriors, otherwise mentally and physically tough players, the ones that Coach Thibodeau prefers. Towns, 28 years old, No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft, 4-time All Star, last season averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds per game, shooting 50% from the field and 41.6% from 3-point range. The long shooter who Thibs needed to open the field for penetrations to the basket by his wingers. Robinson will act as a defensive intimidator at the rim when he recovers. Towns can also play as a 4, as he did for the Wolves, alongside Gobert. The Knicks are aiming for the title, they believe they have closed the circle with this move on the NBA chessboard, the one presumed to checkmate the contenders. Randle has always disappointed in the playoffs, so far, from 4 he suffered in defense and from 5 he was small for his role. Of course, DiVincenzo is a significant loss, especially in terms of team depth. But as much as Thibodeau is famous for his minimalist rotations, anyway…

TIMBERWOLVES PERSPECTIVE

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Towns next to Gobert has always made little sense, ever. Because as a 4 he suffers too much in defense and because playing with two authentic big men in a perimeter league goes against the contemporary development of the game. Of course, the Wolves led by Edwards still reached the Conference final in the 2024 playoffs, equaling the best result of the franchise, defeated only by Luka Doncic’s Dallas, in the West. But Tim Connelly, the first manager, knew well that this was not the optimal technical scenario to aim for the title. Randle makes more sense than Towns at 4, it’s his natural role, and getting Big Ragu, 27 years old, coming off the best year of his career, in premium, under contract for 4 seasons, is not an everyday thing. And then Randle’s contract, at 29 million dollars, expires in 2025 (with the player’s option to renew for another 12 months), while Towns’ contract committed the franchise for 220 million until 2028. Randle, three times All Star, will turn 30 years in December. His numbers for the 2023-24 season are sumptuous: 24.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5 assists per game. Minny also has Naz Reid, the Sixth Man of the Year in 2024, as a long man, a flexible 4 who with Towns on the roster was sacrificed, as a reserve, albeit a luxury. In the future he could become the starter if Big Julius is not renewed. The Wolves quintet is now more logical for Coach Finch: Mike Conley and Edwards, the star, as guards, McDaniels and Randle as wings, Gobert as defensive center. The Frenchman has cost a fortune in terms of future choices, “returning” one, starting from the next Draft, makes sense. Di Vincenzo will play as a sixth man. Even the Wolves feel like this as a ring. In short, everyone is happy. But then only one will win the title and for the other contenders the time of regrets will begin.

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