Link to tweet/X post: https://x.com/matissa15/status/1839865601155633490?s=46
If this report is true, this trade makes even more sense for the Knicks wanting to do it and aiming to do it before the start of training camp.
The Knicks have reportedly wanted KAT for several years now and have inquired about his availability for years.
They have now finally been able to acquire him, due to the Wolves financial restrictions with keeping him on the roster.
I think the Knicks win this trade since KAT is an elite spacing big man and is a seamless first round pick for their team.
The Wolves lose this trade because Randle is a poor fit alongside Gobert in the front court, due to their poor spacing. The spacing is poor now due to Randle’s inconsistent three point shooting and Gobert’s nonexistent spacing, since he cannot shoot beyond 5 feet of the basket.
Donte is a nice addition for the Wolves but he is not enough to justify the monumental loss of Kat. Donte is an elite role player, but is not a genuine star, unlike KAT.
Furthermore, KAT is a massive loss for the Wolves in their future matchups against Denver.
It will be more difficult for the Wolves to defeat Denver now since Kat played a critical role in stifling Jokic. It is also an issue for the Wolves against Denver since they no longer have the option of deploying their three man defensive lineup of KAT alongside Naz Reid and Gobert, which was very successful against Denver in the playoffs last season.
Overall, the Knicks have an elite starting 5 and still have decent depth off the bench to form an extremely formidable contending team in the east. Whilst the Wolves were forced to trade KAT due to future financial limitations, but have suffered a downgrade with their overall roster.
I imagine the Wolves will likely have more moves to make before or throughout the season.
I think Randle should be expendable due to his poor fit alongside Gobert.
It would probably have to be Randle that gets traded out of the front court pairing since it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the Wolves to trade Rudy instead and receive a decent package. Even if they could get a decent return, unless it’s a sensational return that exceeds the value of the assets that the Wolves exchanged to acquire Gobert, it would be pointless to trade him, since he is a DPOY defender that anchors their teams defence.
by Proof-Umpire-7718
39 Comments
He probably just wants a bigger role and it’s harder for him to get more mins with OG/bridges/Hart at the wing and Thibs playing his starters big mins
If this is actually true then this is more shocking than the trade itself
Best career of his season playing with his friends and college teammates
Math isn’t mathing
I mean I’d believe it if he wanted a starting role but he’s not starting on the wolves either lol
Again – an underrated issue the Knicks had was a minutes logjam at the wings. Divo was going to be the odd man out AND he hasn’t gotten PAID yet (he drastically outperformed his new contract in his first year with the Knicks and he will be looking to get a new deal sooner than later). And the Knicks needed a center. This trade makes a ton of sense
It makes more sense that something like this is true because it just seemed weird to so desperately break up that Villanova connection before it even began
Follow up post from Issa about the situation: https://x.com/matissa15/status/1839868587135091093?s=46
For those that can’t see the post, he says; “More: the Knicks worried that this might become a bigger issue. So, they thought it wise to move him.”
Is it really that surprising? He lost his starting role after having a fantastic season and playoffs last year.
Usually players are rewarded for stepping up and he wasn’t. I feel any other player would react the same way.
He balled out last year and was definitely heading to the bench, so I could see it. People assume he’d be cool with it cause those are his boys, but it’s not like that is a given.
Odd that seemingly no NY sports beat writers or other NBA media personalities covering NY have hinted at or heard any of this, no? Wonder what his sourcing/in is. Bummer if that ended up being the case.
Yeah I could imagine the role being a problem with mikal now
Here come the after trade hit pieces
everyone acting like this was bad for the knicks is dumb, you don’t build teams around who was close growing up.
that being said, the wolves are imploding
I was waiting for the first targeted leak that the “Nova chemistry” thing wasn’t real. So either the Knicks and their players over hyped a thing for a year and a half or this is damage control for a move that confused a lot of fans.
Knicks PR really hammered home that Nova stuff. Especially this offseason. It was definitely real.
It’s understandable. Donte is entering prime and has proven he’s a high quality starter caliber player unlike Hart who’s found an ideal role being a Swiss Army knife for the contending team.
Kick him out of the group chat
Basketball gods holding the curse back after this news broke
Idk kind of like this for the Wolves as long as they don’t pay Randle. Just play it out and see if Randle fits. If it does, extend him but only the length of Gobert’s contract so they both expire at the same time. Also Donte might be more valuable than Kag just because he shoots more 3s. Towns actually doesn’t take as many 3s as you’d think whereas Donte shoots as much as any non Curry player. Towns also gets hurt a ton and is back playing for Thibs. Randle probably is healthier not playing under Thibs plus the Randle and Naz Reid fit is better than the Towns ad Naz Reid fit
Donte could be a genuine star.
I’m pretty sure he still wants to play, he can kick it with the homies all summer
Dude did you get ChatGPT to write this for you?
He is probably pissed he signed a bad deal.
OK that’s fine, so if I’m in the front office I’m moving him for a center, I get that. I just think a more reasonable swing should’ve been made. Could a package centered around him and maybe mitch for salary matching purposes have gotten a starting caliber guy? If so I think that would have been better. I get what they’re trying to do on paper but I don’t think it’s a good deal in the way that others here do.
Is it bad that I will miss Big Ragu more then Randle?. He was absolutely brilliant in the playoffs. Definitely an underrated player.
This isn’t really surprising. Donte was unhappy in Sac because he wanted a bigger role than we’d give him, and he needs to get a payday at this point. He has the talent, but his role and situation changes every season. I think if he gets more stability, he’ll blossom even more.
All I know is I want an Alexander Payne-ish style comedy/drama called Nova Boys. It’s all jokes in the beginning, but Donte (played by Paul Mescal with his hair dyed red) secretly feels unhappy. Mentally, he’s moved on from the college days, doesn’t wanna just be ‘one of the boys’, wants to have his own team, but he doesn’t know how to tell the guys. He randomly forms a friendship with Paul Giamatti (who plays himself), and Giamatti convinces Donte to speak up for himself. Yadda yadda yadda. Nova Boys gets nominated for 6 Oscars somehow cause it’s an Alexander Payne movie.
This kinda feels like a big chatGPT post, or it was written my a middle schooler. I can’t tell the difference anymore.
lol is this post AI generated?
Now it makes sense why he wasn’t in the Roommates show live event, even Mikal was there.
Oh, I’m sure DDV is going to be much happier coming off the bench in Minnesota than he was starting in New York.
So the Knicks were able to offload two malcontents for a unicorn 40% career 3pt shooting center? Not a bad deal for them, hot fucking garbage for the Wolves.
If Donte wants starter minutes, I doubt he’ll get them in Minny
Is this AI? Why is it written out like this?
Was this post written by ChatGPT?
Also pretty sure Hart “Draymonded” him at Nova. I could see why he would want to dip
Weird post to put your massive editorializing essay under.
So he didn’t champion super-Nova on the SNY?
Until Donte actually confirms this, I’m not 100% buying it. I get why it could be true financially, but personally, the Nova Boys situation sounds like a dream. My guess is “unhappy” is vastly overstating it. It’s probably more accurate to say that as much as everyone enjoys playing with their friends, the money comes first. That’s not the same as being unhappy.
Am I the only one that’s not that worried about Denver anymore???
Written by AI?
Burn it down Minny, send us Ant