The Timberwolves and Knicks are near a blockbuster deal that might ship Karl-Anthony Cities to New York. The Knicks’ bundle would focus on Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, in line with The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski (Twitter hyperlinks).
The 2 events are nonetheless working by way of the small print however talks have intensified over final 24 hours, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets. Minnesota can be receiving the primary spherical decide that the Pistons owe the Knicks, in line with Steve Popper of Newsday (Twitter hyperlink).
The Knicks are sending DaQuan Jeffries and draft compensation to the Hornets to facilitate the deal, Charania provides (Twitter hyperlink). Nevertheless, Jeffries shouldn’t be at the moment on New York’s roster, so how he matches in to the deal stays to be seen.
It’s a shocking flip of occasions proper earlier than the beginning of coaching camp. New York was already concerned in a serious deal this offseason, buying and selling for the Nets’ Mikal Bridges.
The addition of Cities would give the Knicks extra flexibility with their lineup however would come at a big long-term value by way of payroll. Cities’ monster four-year, $220MM extension kicks on this season. He’s as a result of make $49,205,800 this season and his wage escalates over the lifetime of the contract.
Randle has a $28,939,680 wage this season and has a $30.9MM participant choice subsequent offseason. DiVincenzo is within the second yr of a four-year, $46.87MM contract, together with a $11,445,000 wage this season.
New York can’t take again extra wage than they’re sending out because it’s over the $178.1MM first apron, whereas the Timberwolves can’t take extra money than they’re sending out, cap knowledgeable Yossi Gozlan factors out (Twitter hyperlink).
The Timberwolves may save $26.5MM in payroll and luxurious tax penalties, although they’d nonetheless be over the second apron, Gozlan provides in one other tweet. Randle additionally had a commerce bonus value $4.1MM, in line with Gozlan (Twitter hyperlink).
Lengthy-term wage cap implications will surely issue into Minnesota’s determination, if the deal goes by way of. Cities has additionally suffered a variety of accidents throughout his profession and that is also an element within the Timberwolves’ considering.
The Pistons, Hawks and Warmth are among the many different groups the Knicks talked to concerning potential Randle trades, SNY TV’s Ian Begley tweets.
Cities would give the Knicks a dynamic frontcourt scoring choice to enhance All-Star guard Jalen Brunson. He may additionally fill the middle spot, which is in flux with Mitchell Robinson sidelined by damage and Isaiah Hartenstein signing as a free agent with Oklahoma Metropolis. Cities may additionally slide over to the facility ahead spot at instances when Robinson returns.
Randle would substitute Cities because the Timberwolves’ energy ahead, whereas DiVincenzo would offer Minnesota with a strong 3-point taking pictures wing. He’s coming off a profession yr through which he averaged 15.1 factors.
