Karl-Anthony Towns was clearly blindsided by the trade that landed him on the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and other moving

The two paired in Minnesota before Thibodeau was fired in 2019. Now, more mature and reenergized, they're ready to lead the Knicks into serious NBA title contention.

During ESPN's NBA Today on Thursday, Windhorst expressed his surprise at just how many executives felt that Minnesota's acquisition of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo—as well as a conditional first round pick—was the superior haul to that of Towns.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were playing the New York Knicks. And running the sideline for New York’s basketball team was Tom Thibodeau, Towns’ former coach in Minnesota who aided in Towns reaching new heights as a player and the organization briefly getting back to relevancy.

Julius Randle said he was shocked when he learned last weekend that the New York Knicks traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Randle had become an All-Star in his five seasons with the Knicks, and although he missed New York's playoff run last season because of a shoulder injury,

Since news broke that the Minnesota Timberwolves would trade forward Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks Friday night, the word writers and fans have kept throwing around is "stunning." Towns was a community pillar in the Twin Cities—one who is not easily replaced practically or aesthetically.

Karl-Anthony Towns is saying farewell to Minnesota, a state that will "always hold a special place in my heart."

So much of what spurred the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals last season remains in place. Anthony Edwards is leading the way. Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels are locking down on defense.