Karl-Anthony Towns drops cryptic 3:11 post while hitting Timberwolves court after Knicks trade

The Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks shocked the basketball world with the blockbuster trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns right before the start of training camp. The Knicks acquired KAT in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo and All-Star Julius Randle.

After news of the trade broke, Karl-Anthony Towns took to Instagram to express his thoughts before he left the North Star state. He uploaded a picture of himself hooping on the Timberwolves court in the middle of the night possibly for the last time in his career.

Karl-Anthony Towns posts himself practicing at the Timberwolves court. (Credits: @karltowns/Instagram)

Towns added a time stamp displaying "3:11" next to himself in the picture. The first overall pick from the 2015 NBA draft spent his entire career at the Minnesota Timberwolves trying to carry his team to the playoffs. That dream came true after Anthony Edwards, the first overall pick from the 2020 NBA draft joined the team.

In 2024 he Timberwolves went all the way to the Western Conference finals for the first time since the 2003-2004 season. Towns delivered a great performance in the postseason stage averaging 19.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists in the playoffs. However, the Timberwolves lost to the Mavs with a 4-1 record in the series.

The Timberwolves will be back in action in late October to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the season opener and this time it will be without Karl-Anthony Towns.

Why was Karl-Anthony Towns traded to the New York Knicks?

The trade of Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks had a complicated relationship with the revised CBA rules of the league applicable to all teams since last season. The CBA rules were revised to simplify and ensure teams that are over the second apron of luxury tax have additional restrictions imposed. Here are the full rules and explanation of the restrictions imposed on teams.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were an expensive team with three big salaries on the roster: Anthony Edwards at $42.1 million, Rudy Gobert at $43.8 million and Towns with $49.2 million. To avoid the luxury tax limit restrictions, the Wolves had to trade one of the superstars, the only question was who it would be. Rudy Gobert had won the Defensive Player of the Year award last season and Anthony Edwards has become the face of the franchise.

So, Towns become the optimal choice to be traded away. Moreover, the Knicks lack of a versatile "number five," or big man, contributed to the trade. The Knicks had one missing piece from the roster last season. Although Mitchell Robinson was a great center, he lacked the versatility and three-point ability that KAT brings to the table. With the former Timberwolves star, the Knicks are now looking like a strong team to contend for the championship.