While New York will be title contenders with the versatile Towns, the Timberwolves will continue to contend in the Western Conference with their additions.

Julius Randle said he was shocked when he learned he was traded to the Timberwolves but that he is happy to be somewhere he feels wanted.

The deal brought Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota along with a protected first-round pick, improving the team's depth in the short term and its flexibility for the foreseeable future. The depth was appealing in part because the Wolves had let veterans Kyle Anderson and Monte Morris go in free agency.