"Trade between Knicks and Wolves alters NBA championship chances"
The highly anticipated trade between the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves prompted oddsmakers to swiftly adjust the futures market for the 2024-25 NBA championship.
The initial results were favorable for both teams.
In a swap of All-Star forwards, the Knicks are reportedly acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns in exchange for Julius Randle. The Timberwolves will also receive guard Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick, according to reports. ESPN states that the draft pick will be a top-13 protected 2025 first-rounder that was previously owned by the Detroit Pistons.
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BetMGM informed Field Level Media on Saturday that their oddsmakers have shortened the Knicks' title odds from +900 to +700, while the Timberwolves have shifted from +1100 to +1000. The Knicks now have the third-best odds behind the Boston Celtics at +325 and the Oklahoma City Thunder at +675, although the Celtics' odds have increased from +310 since news of the trade broke.
Boston is the +170 favorite to win the Eastern Conference, slightly up from +160. The Celtics are now followed by the Knicks, who have moved from +425 to +275, the Philadelphia 76ers (+475), the Milwaukee Bucks (+900), the Orlando Magic (+1600), and the Cleveland Cavaliers (+1700).
In the Western Conference, the Timberwolves have shortened from +500 to +450 and are now only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (+340).
MOVING PIECES
According to ESPN, the trade will require the involvement of a third team to balance the exchange of salaries, with the Charlotte Hornets expected to fill that role.
Towns, 28, is entering the first year of a four-year, $220 million contract extension. Randle, 29, is set to earn $28.9 million in the 2024-25 season, with a player option for $30.9 million the following season. DiVincenzo, 27, has three years remaining on his contract for a total of nearly $36 million.
This trade follows the Knicks' acquisition of Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets earlier this offseason. New York is looking to build on a successful season in which they went 50-32 and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.
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The Timberwolves had a record of 56-26 last season, just one game behind the best record in the Western Conference, and advanced to the conference finals.
Towns was an All-Star for the fourth time last season, averaging 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds. In his nine seasons in the NBA, all with the Timberwolves, he has career averages of 22.9 points and 10.8 rebounds.
Randle was limited to 46 games last season due to a right shoulder injury. He last played in January and had surgery on his shoulder in April.
The three-time All-Star averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in the 2023-24 season. Throughout his career with the Los Angeles Lakers (2014-15 to 2017-18), New Orleans Pelicans (2018-19), and Knicks (2019-20 to 2023-24), he has averaged 19.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
DiVincenzo had a career-high 15.5 points per game last season and also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Throughout his career with the Milwaukee Bucks (2018-19 to 2021-22), Sacramento Kings (2021-22), Golden State Warriors (2022-23), and New York (2023-24), he has averages of 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
