In a shocking move, the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to a massive trade just days before training camp. The Knicks sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns in the trade. Though there were reports suggesting the Knicks may move on from Randle, this deal is still surprising. This is especially true for DiVincenzo, who is fresh off the best year of his career. Furthermore, after their offseason acquisition of Mikal Bridges, many fans were excited about the “Nova Knicks.” Bridges, DiVincenzo, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart all attended Villanova together and were (briefly) together with the Knicks as well. However, despite the trade appearing as a surprise, new reports suggest that DiVincenzo may have wanted a move away from the Knicks.
According to Mat Issa of SportsCasting.com, an anonymous source said that DiVincenzo “was really unhappy” in New York. Furthermore, reports indicated that that DiVincenzo “was not into” the Nova Knicks.
“Donte [DiVincenzo] was really unhappy, and [the Knicks] thought it could be a problem. They also believe that Landry Shamet can provide some quality bench guard minutes,” an anonymous source close to the situation told Sportscasting.
New Reports Emerge Around Donte DiVincenzo’s Knicks Departure
New York Knicks Believe They Already Have DiVincenzo’s Replacement
As the source mentions, the Knicks will likely rely more heavily on Landry Shamet to take over for DiVincenzo. Though he is not as consistent as DiVincenzo, who shot 40.1% from the three-point line last season, Shamet offers a lot of the same things. The Knicks recently signed Shamet just a couple of weeks ago. Though the Knicks just signed him to a training camp contract, it seems Shamet will play a big role with the team next season. Additionally, Shamet will bring a veteran presence to the Knicks.
Landry Shamet gives Knicks shooting & the veteran depth that they didn’t have last season when injuries mounted. League sources familiar w/matter say being in winning environment was important to Shamet, so NYK had edge over other suitors. Shamet played w/Mikal Bridges in PHX. He…
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 14, 2024
The Last Word
In his only year in New York, DiVincenzo averaged 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He also shot 44.3% from the field. The 2021 NBA champion has three years remaining on his four-year, $46.9 million contract. For the Timberwolves, DiVincenzo will likely continue to play a backup role. However, given his contract situation, he should be able to contribute to the team immediately and for the long haul as the Timberwolves aim to win their first-ever NBA championship.
