Julius Randle shocked by Timberwolves-Knicks trade, but happy to 'feel wanted' - ESPN

MINNEAPOLIS — Julius Randle said he was shocked when he learned last weekend that the New York Knicks traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Randle had become an All-Star in his five seasons with the Knicks, and although he missed New York's playoff run last season because of a shoulder injury, he was looking forward to giving it another shot this year.

But after a night's sleep, Randle woke up Saturday morning excited about his new opportunity in Minnesota. He said he was invigorated to join another championship contender and do what he could to help add to the existing Wolves core.

«You want to be somewhere where you feel wanted. I feel wanted here,» Randle said Thursday. «At this point in my career, I've accomplished a lot of great things on an individual level, but I want to win a championship. This is a perfect opportunity to do that.»

The Timberwolves introduced Randle alongside Donte DiVincenzo and Keita Bates-Diop at a news conference, unveiling the trade return — along with an extra first-round draft pick — that Minnesota received from New York for Karl-Anthony Towns, their franchise cornerstone for the past nine years.

«It was a breath of fresh air,» Randle said about the trade. «I'm excited to bring everything I've learned here over the past five years and help these guys out. My only thing here is I just want to help.

»I want to help [Anthony Edwards]. I want to help Rudy [Gobert], Naz [Reid] — all those guys. I want to help win a championship, and that's the only thing that matters."

Wolves president Tim Connelly emphasized the basketball reasons for making the blockbuster trade on the eve of training camp — months removed from the franchise's first appearance in the Western Conference Finals in two