When the Knicks traded Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick to the Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns, opinions were split about who won the trade, but it’s starting to look like a win for Minnesota, at least according to Zach Lowe.
Lowe declared the Timberwolves the winner of the KAT trade in a recent episode of his podcast, saying, “I’m ready to render judgment, the Timberwolves won the Kat trade... You have to wonder if the Knicks regret the KAT trade... Randle is having a better season at half the cost."
He also mentioned Donte DiVincenzo, who is a good player averaging 14 a game on solid shooting splits.
The Knicks traded away quality depth (an All-Star in the case of Randle) for the splashier name and bigger star, and they did make it to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, so it’s not like it’s been a disaster. I'd say the verdict is still pending on the trade and if the Knicks win a title, this topic will be dead.
But the recent Knicks’ implosion has some reconsidering the trade, as well as New York’s status as the team to beat in the East.
They are things the Pistons should consider as the trade deadline approaches.
Trading multiple rotation players for one guy will be tricky for the Pistons
It’s highly doubtful the Pistons are involved in anything remotely as high profile as the Towns trade, as even the wildest proposals don’t have them landing an All-NBA or even All-Star talent.
But most of these fake trades do involve the Pistons sending out multiple players for one guy, which isn’t going to be easy for them to absorb.
Any trade involving Tobias Harris almost has to bring back a power forward, as the Pistons are already thin at the position. Harris also provides important isolation scoring the Pistons can rely on in a pinch and is one of their veteran leaders.
Jaden Ivey is the other name often attached to these trade proposals, and while he hasn’t played great so far this season, he’s primed for a big second half (I hope) and you do have to wonder if the combination of Harris and Ivey would be more beneficial to the Pistons than the player they get in a trade, as it arguably has been for Minnesota.
Would a player like Michael Porter Jr. make more of an impact than Harris and Ivey combined? It's a fair question to ask.
The Pistons’ depth has helped carry them this season and giving up a chunk of it for one guy will only work if that player moves the needle and plays the right position, otherwise, the Pistons may look up in a season or two with regret, as the Knicks may be now.
A lot of this is overreaction to a recent slump for New York, but the KAT trade does represent the type of move that will always draw debate between the value of quality depth vs. star players.