Knicks Notes: Randle, DiVincenzo, Finch, Towns

The Curtsy and the Timberwolves will face each other on Thursday night for the first time since completing a blockbuster deal that sent the Wolves’ longtime star Karl Anthony cities to New York. Former kink Julius Randle was part of that deal after spending five seasons with New York – it was the best stretch of his career as he averaged 22.6 points per game and made three All-Star teams.

Despite Randle’s impressive stay in New York, he told reporters that he viewed Thursday’s game as just “another game,” according to Peter Botte of the New York Post, and made no further comments when asked if he would be against old team will compete.

“Whenever you get traded, no matter what it is, it’s always hard, it’s always emotional,“Former teammate Josh Hart said. “You always have the feeling of not being wanted. That’s on both sides. I find (Donte DiVincenzo) and (Randle) probably felt that way. And KAT probably felt that way, and every time a trade happens, you feel like even if you’re the big part of the trade and another team wants you, you still have a little rock on your shoulder and yourself still feeling unwanted.”

The Knicks know the challenge they face with Randle, who is averaging 20.1 points this season.

“Jules is a great player. He can do everything” OG Anunoby said, per Botte. “Pass, shoot, drive. Great player.”

We have more from the Knicks:

• DiVincenzo still keeps in touch with his former Knicks teammates and knows what they’re going through, Botte wrote in another story. DiVincenzo is averaging 8.3 PPG while shooting 31.9% from distance and has been open about the difficulties of adjusting to a new team. “It’s not normal to make a trade the day before media day. It takes time for both sides to adaptsaid DiVincenzo. “Great things take time. I believe that on our side, but also on their side. I think KAT is playing really well, but it’s going to take some time for the other guys to get used to what he’s doing.”
• Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reports (subscriber link) that this adds another layer to an already interesting relationship between the two teams Timberwolves Head coach Chris Finch almost took a job Tom Thibodeau in 2020 before it ends Nick Nurse in Toronto. “Thibs already had his staff full. And so he just wanted me to come in as a consultant/backroom guy,said Finch. “But I wanted to train more. I wanted to be out there.”
• The Knicks got everything they hoped for from Towns when they traded him, writes Fred Katz of The Athletic. Towns has a career and league average of 13.9 rebounds per game and also contributes 24.8 points per game, his highest since the 2020-21 season. His shooting line is .526/.439/.845.