Timberwolves agree to trade Towns to Knicks for Randle, DiVincenzo, 1st-rounder, AP source says

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves are sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft pick in a franchise-altering deal for both sides, a person with knowledge of the deal said Friday night.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade, which was first reported by The Athletic, had not been finalized.

Towns, a four-time All-Star entering his 10th season who's one of the best outside shooting big men in the game, never hinted at any discontent with the team that drafted him first overall in 2015 despite several lean years preceding the run to the Western Conference finals last spring.

Active in the Twin Cities community, willing to defer the alpha role to young star Anthony Edwards, and unbothered by the move to a stretch power forward role following the acquisition of center Rudy Gobert two years ago, Towns did not appear to see this move coming three days before the beginning of training camp.

In an interview with the AP earlier this week about a youth center he’s helping build in the Dominican Republic — the homeland of his late mother, Jackie — Towns spoke with nothing short of excitement about the season ahead and Minnesota’s outlook coming off the 2023-24 breakthrough that ended in a five-game loss to Dallas in the conference finals.

“We showed our merit last season,” Towns said. “We showed our growth, and I think more importantly we showed maturity. We found a way to show we belonged. I’m just so proud of what we were able to do last year. We’re not going to be surprising anyone. I think we’ve shown that we’re a team that you definitely have to take into consideration. When you see us on the calendar, you’ve got to bring your best.”

The Wolves will most definitely have to bring their best on Dec. 19, when they host the Knicks. Minnesota plays an exhibition game at New York on Oct. 13 and in the regular season at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 17.

Towns posted an ellipsis on the social platform X Friday night, without a single word.

Towns grew up in Minnesota in a big way, entering the league at age 19. He played for five head coaches and had seven heads of basketball operations over his nine seasons with the Wolves. The man who drafted him out of Kentucky, Flip Saunders, died of cancer four months later.

Towns got caught up in a personality struggle in 2018 with former teammate and fellow All-Star Jimmy Butler, who requested a trade after one season and used a scorched-Earth method of forcing his way out. Towns found the injury bug more recently, too, with a strained calf limiting him to 29 games in 2022-23. And his mother's death from COVID-19 complications in 2020 took a personal toll.

The upside for the 7-footer is a return to his roots, having grown up in New Jersey. He'll also be reunited with coach Tom Thibodeau, who spent 2 1/2 seasons with Minnesota after being hired in Towns' second year.

Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has never been afraid of a bold move, as he proved by going big — on the court and off — in the Gobert deal. This decision was even bigger, as the Wolves prepare for the challenge of trying to make it two steps further in the playoffs while the top teams in the West show no signs of letting up around them.

The Wolves get an All-Star power forward in Randle, plus a sharpshooter in DiVincenzo coming off a career-best season and a first-rounder to offset some of the draft capital they sent to Utah in the trade for Gobert.

Randle's health will be a storyline to watch during the preseason. He had shoulder surgery in April and was absent for New York's run to the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks said then that Randle would be re-evaluated in five months. Asked last week if Randle would be fully ready for camp, Thibodeau said, “Uh, yeah, I think so.”

With a recent maximum contract extension for Edwards, the acquisition of Gobert and other expensive commitments, the Wolves with Towns were headed for the second apron of the luxury tax that comes with stiff restrictions under the new collective bargaining agreement. Their ownership situation is in flux, too, with longtime owner Glen Taylor's attempt to halt a protracted sale to partners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez scheduled for arbitration later this year.

With the Knicks, Towns can slide back to his original center spot and fill a major need. Mitchell Robinson will be out for at least two months, recovering from ankle surgery. Isaiah Hartenstein signed with Oklahoma City this summer. That was the only position of weakness on a deep roster led by All-Star Jalen Brunson.

Reynolds reported from Miami. AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York contributed to this report.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

FILE - New York Knicks' Tom Thibodeau coaches play during Game 4 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, April 28, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

FILE - New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) dribbles during the second half of Game 7 in an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, on May 19, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

FILE - New York Knicks forward Julius Randle looks to shoot a free throw in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, on Jan. 25, 2024, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

FILE - Dominican Republic forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) against Serbia guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (7) during their Basketball World Cup second round match at the Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines on Sunday Sept. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

FILE - Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket over Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) during the second half in Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson, File)

ATLANTA (AP) — The Kansas City Royals completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in major league history Friday night, clinching an American League wild card despite a 3-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

A year ago, the Royals matched a franchise record with 106 losses. Now, they are headed to the postseason for the first time since winning the 2015 World Series.

“We’re just so proud of everyone,” said shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., the face of the revitalized franchise. “This is just the beginning of something special.”

The celebration was delayed by a masterful performance from Atlanta pitcher Max Fried. But the Royals finally popped the champagne corks in the visitors' clubhouse at Truist Park when the Minnesota Twins were eliminated with a 7-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

“This isn’t how we ideally wanted it,” Witt said. “But we’re here. We did it. We’re so proud of each other. We can’t let one game control our season.”

Led by second-year manager Matt Quatraro, Kansas City is the first team in baseball history to make the playoffs after posting such a dismal mark the previous season.

In fact, since the start of the expansion era in 1961, the Royals are just the third team to advance to the postseason after losing at least 100 games the previous year.

The Twins earned a wild card in 2017 after going 59-103 a year earlier, and the 2020 Florida Marlins qualified for a wild card during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign coming off a 57-105 debacle.

The Royals quickly fell on hard times after claiming back-to-back AL pennants in 2014 and ’15 and their first World Series title in 30 years. They had not recorded a winning season since their championship run, losing at least 100 games in three of the past six, and were a total laughingstock just a year ago.

That all changed this season with a team led by Witt, who became the first shortstop in major league history with multiple seasons of at least 30 homers and 30 steals.

“You can’t help but be proud,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “It was a battle all year long. We overcame a lot of odds.”

The Royals have struggled down the stretch, enduring a pair of seven-game losing streaks.

It didn't stop them in the end.

“We had some adversity here the last month of the season,” Picollo said. “But this is a tough, resilient group and we got through and here we are celebrating this moment.”

Witt tops the majors with 210 hits and a .332 batting average, to go along with 32 homers, 109 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.

Veteran catcher Salvador Perez also is having a huge offensive season with 27 homers and 104 RBIs. The Royals made the playoffs even after losing first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who had 97 RBIs before breaking his right thumb and undergoing surgery.

There is a chance Pasquantino could return during the playoffs if the Royals make an extended run.

Amazingly, Picollo didn’t have to break the bank to build a small-market winner.

The players that have led Kansas City to heights not seen in nearly a decade were either on the team last year and just needed a little more time to grow, or were free-agent signings and trade acquisitions that underscored Picollo’s baseball savvy.

Just check out the rotation.

Seth Lugo, who is 16-9 with a 3.03 ERA, signed a modest three-year, $45 million free-agent deal. Michael Wacha signed a similar two-year, $32 million deal and is 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA.

Cole Ragans has contributed 11 wins with 223 strikeouts after being acquired from the Texas Rangers in a trade last season. Brady Singer bounced back from a disappointing 2023, and Michael Lorenzen is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in six starts since his arrival just before the trade deadline.

The bullpen has been entirely rebuilt, too, with Lucas Erceg earning 11 saves since the Royals landed him in a trade with Milwaukee.

Owner John Sherman said he was thrilled the fans of Kansas City have a winning team to cheer for again.

“I remember we talked about this a lot, maybe in spring training, that all we want to do is play meaningful baseball in August and September and have a chance to play in October,” Sherman said. “Here we are.”

Nobody seems to be having more fun than Witt, who has put together a historic season after signing an 11-year deal worth $288.7 million to serve as the cornerstone of the franchise.

The son of longtime big league pitcher Bobby Witt is the first player in major league history with multiple 30-30 seasons in his first three years in the majors. Advanced metrics grade him as not only one of baseball’s best defenders but also one of its fastest players.

“He’s the best player in baseball,” Ragans said recently. “A special talent, a special human being."

While fans in Kansas City have seen Witt’s stardom blossoming for several seasons, his coming-out party may have come this summer during the Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, not far from where he grew up in Colleyville, Texas.

Witt reached the finals before losing 14-13 to Teoscar Hernández of the Dodgers in a dramatic showdown that came down to the final swings.

Now, Witt can look forward to an even bigger stage.

The postseason.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Kansas City Royals pitcher Carlos Hernández throws in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. swings and hits a ball foul in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. speaks with a reporter during a celebration in the locker room after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Kansas City Royals' Kyle Isbel swings for a called strike in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Hall of Fame Kansas City Royals infielder George Brett, left, congratulates pitcher Michael Lorenzen, right, during a celebration in the locker room after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. waits for a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves to begin Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Kansas City Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco (44) celebrates in the locker room after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr., lfront eft, and Michael Massey, right, await for their turns at bat in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Hall of Fame Kansas City Royals' infielder George Brett, left, celebrates with pitcher Michael Lorenzen, right, in the locker room after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., center has champagne poured on him by teammates during the celebration in the locker room after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)