Reporting:The New York Knicks are set to acquire All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns in a three-team trade.

As training camps are set to begin on Monday, reports surfaced late Friday indicating that the New York Knicks have made a significant trade ahead of the preseason. According to Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski from The Athletic, the Knicks are acquiring All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves. In return, New York will send All-Star forward Julius Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo, and a protected first-round pick (originally from Detroit) to Minnesota.

The Charlotte Hornets quickly became a significant third party in the trade, acquiring DaQuan Jeffries and draft assets to assist in managing the salary cap implications for the two “apron” teams involved.

Karl-Anthony Towns, a four-time All-Star entering his tenth season, had never expressed any dissatisfaction with the Timberwolves, the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2015, even during challenging years prior to their recent run to the Western Conference finals.

Known for his community involvement in Minnesota and his willingness to take a backseat to rising star Anthony Edwards, Towns adapted well to a stretch power forward role after the acquisition of Rudy Gobert two years ago. However, he seemed surprised by this trade just three days before training camp began. The move brings him back to his roots in New Jersey.

In an interview with the AP earlier this week regarding a youth center he is helping to establish in the Dominican Republic—his late mother Jackie’s homeland—Karl-Anthony Towns expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming season and Minnesota’s prospects following their 2023-24 playoff run that ended in a five-game defeat to Dallas in the conference finals.

“We proved ourselves last season,” Towns remarked. “We demonstrated growth and, more importantly, maturity. We found a way to show we belonged. I’m incredibly proud of our achievements last year. We won’t catch anyone off guard anymore; we’ve established ourselves as a team that must be taken seriously. When you see us on the schedule, you need to bring your best.”

The Timberwolves will certainly need to be at their best on December 19 when they face the Knicks at home. They also have an exhibition game against New York on October 13 and a regular-season matchup at Madison Square Garden on January 17.

On Friday night, Towns posted an ellipsis on social media without any accompanying text.

Having grown up in Minnesota, Towns entered the NBA at just 19 years old and has played under five different head coaches, experiencing seven changes in basketball operations leadership during his nine seasons with the Timberwolves. The individual who drafted him, Flip Saunders, passed away from cancer just four months later.

Towns faced challenges during his tenure, including a conflict with former teammate Jimmy Butler in 2018, who forced a trade after one season. More recently, injuries limited him to just 29 games in the 2022-23 season due to a strained calf, and he suffered personally with the loss of his mother to COVID-19 complications in 2020.

The trade offers Towns a chance to return to his roots in New Jersey and reunite with coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached him for two and a half seasons in Minnesota.

Tim Connelly, Minnesota’s president of basketball operations, is known for making bold moves, as evidenced by the significant trade for Rudy Gobert. This latest deal could be even more impactful as the Wolves aim to advance further in the playoffs amid stiff competition from other top teams in the Western Conference.

In return for Towns, Minnesota acquires All-Star power forward Julius Randle and sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo, who is coming off a career-best season, along with a first-round pick to help recover some of the draft capital lost in the Gobert trade.

Randle’s health will be a key storyline during preseason; he underwent shoulder surgery in April and missed New York’s playoff run to the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks indicated that he would be re-evaluated in five months, and when asked if Randle would be ready for camp, Thibodeau responded affirmatively.

With recent maximum contract extensions for Edwards and significant commitments like Gobert’s acquisition, the Wolves were approaching luxury tax restrictions under the new collective bargaining agreement. Additionally, their ownership situation remains uncertain as Glen Taylor seeks to halt an ongoing sale to partners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez.

In joining the Knicks, Towns can revert to his original center position and address a significant need on the roster. Mitchell Robinson is expected to be sidelined for at least two months due to ankle surgery, while Isaiah Hartenstein has signed with Oklahoma City this summer. This was previously identified as the only weak spot on an otherwise deep roster led by All-Star Jalen Brunson.