For a second time this offseason, the New York Knicks made a major trade which sent seismic waves through the NBA futures market. The Knicks acquired big man Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for forward Julius Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo, and a protected first-round pick.
Earlier in the summer, the Knicks added forward Mikal Bridges in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets for a slew of draft picks.
The Boston Celtics are the consensus favorite to win back-to-back championships. The Celtics are currently +300 odds at BetMGM. The Knicks are second cofavorites on the board with the Oklahoma City Thunder at +700 odds. The top five betting favorites are rounded out by the Philadelphia 76ers (+1000), Dallas Mavericks (+1100), and Denver Nuggets (+1100).
The Knicks had a win total of 53.5 Over/Under before the Towns trade. Confident Knicks fans hammered the Over ever since the news of the trade broke, and it’s currently 54.5.
Sign up at BetMGM and receive the Best Sportsbook offers Today!
Off-Season NBA Futures Market
During the NBA Finals, BetMGM released futures for the 2024-25 season and the Knicks were +1700 odds to win the championship.
When the Philadelphia 76ers signed All-Star Paul George in free agency in early July, they emerged as second co-favorites to win the title with the Thunder at +700.
After the Bridges trade with the Nets this summer, oddsmakers made an adjustment and Knicks jumped to +800 odds.
After the Knicks secured Towns in their latest blockbuster trade, their NBA championship odds moved to +700, while the 76ers dipped to +800. The Thunder remained at +700.
The Celtics are clearly the top team in the Eastern Conference, and the consensus favorite to win another conference crown at +170 odds according to BetMGM. Both the Knicks and 76ers secured additional firepower in the offseason to specifically compete with the Celtics. After the Towns trade, the Knicks improved to +275 odds to win the Eastern Conference for the first time in 25 years. The 76ers slipped a bit to +475 odds.
The Milwaukee Bucks made a big move last summer with a blockbuster trade for All-Star guard Damian Lillard, which provided them a much-needed high-volume scorer to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks are fourth on the board to win the east at +900 odds.
The Celtics won the Atlantic Division three seasons in a row and seek a fourth-straight divisional crown at -130 odds. The Knicks finished second in the Atlantic last season, and their last division title occurred in the 2012-13 season. The Knicks improved to +250 odds to win the Atlantic, and the 76ers are third on the board at +350.
Gotham KAT
The Knicks needed a center after they got bad news that Mitchell Robinson would not be ready to start the season. Robinson could miss at least three more months while recovering from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his ankle. In the meantime, Robinson’s name has surfaced in the latest trade rumors.
The Knicks also let big man Isaiah Hartenstein leave in free agency when he joined the Thunder. Without a viable option at center, the Knicks hammered out a deal with the Timberwolves.
Towns, a former #1 overall pick out of Kentucky, turns 29 years old in November. In nine seasons with the Timberwolves, he averages 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
Earlier in his career, Towns averaged at least 12.3 rebounds per game in three consecutive seasons. He also had five seasons in which he averaged at least 24 points per game. Towns saw his scoring decrease over the last couple of seasons due to the rise of Anthony Edwards as their primary scorer. His rebounding numbers also took a minor hit after the acquisition of center Rudy Gobert in a trade with the Utah Jazz.
Towns shot 41.6 percent from 3-point range last season and finished five out of the last seven seasons with 40 percent or better from beyond the arc. The Knicks love how Towns’s efficient 3-point shooting helps them spread the floor, versus Randle who often clogged the middle. This ideal spacing allows Jalen Brunson to attack the paint and set up shooters on the perimeter.
New users can Get Your First Bet Back at Caesars Sportsbook. If your first cash bet loses, you’ll get it back as a Bonus Bet – up to $1,000.
How Does KAT Trade Affect the Timberwolves?
The Timberwolves eliminated the defending champion Nuggets from last season’s playoffs. Towns and Gobert were the Twin Cities’ version of the Twin Towers, and their team was constructed specifically to slow down Nikola Jokic and take out the Nuggets. After a dominating series in the conference semifinals, the Timberwolves ran out of gas in the Western Conference Finals when they lost to the Mavericks.
Despite their recent postseason success, the Timberwolves decided to part ways with Town which was a disappointing move according to their loyal fan base. The trade was financially driven to shed salary and avoid luxury taxes. Towns had recently signed a four-year, max-contract extension worth $220 million. His contract also had a player option in 2028 worth $61 million. The Timberwolves have more financial flexibility without Towns’ hefty contract on the books.
There’s no guarantee that the Timberwolves stick with Randle, and they could move him before the trade deadline. Randle might be coming off an injury-riddled season where he missed 36 games, but he’s a former All-Star who averaged 25.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in 2022-23 for the Knicks.
The Timberwolves needed to improve their perimeter shooting, which they achieved with DiVincenzo. He shot around 40 percent from downtown the last two seasons, including 40.7 percent in catch-and-shoot situations.
Second Chance Bet. Make your first deposit at BetRivers and place your first sports wager with real money. If your first wager loses, receive a Bonus Bet, equal to your stake, up to a maximum of $500. Bonus Bet will be awarded within 24 Hours of your qualifying wager settling as a loss.
Betting the Timberwolves
The Timberwolves saw their NBA futures take a minor hit after the Towns trade. They’re now seventh on the board to win the championship at +1200 odds. Their championship futures peaked at +900 at the end of June but were +1000 for most of the summer.
Their Western Conference futures also slid to +500 odds, and they’re currently sandwiched between the Mavs and Nuggets. The Thunder are the favorite to win the top-heavy Northwest Division at -130 odds, followed by the Timberwolves are +220 odds and the Nuggets at +325 odds.
The Timberwolves won 56 games last season, but have a win total of 52.5 O/U, which has not changed despite the trade.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLE