New York Knicks fans were excited about the prospect of the Villanova brothers teaming up, but sadly that wasn’t to be. Despite not initially planning to part ways with Donte DiVincenzo, the Knicks included him in their trade package to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported that DiVincenzo was not enthusiastic about the prospect of a diminished role on the Knicks, especially since there was a huge possibility that Mikal Bridges would likely take his starting spot. However, any dissatisfaction on DiVincenzo’s part seemingly did not influence the Knicks’ decision to trade him.
I can say confidently that DiVincenzo didn’t exactly love the idea of playing fewer minutes/a reduced role this season. He was coming off of a career year and helped the team win a ton of games when it was shorthanded.
SNY’s Ian Begley wrote
Donte DiVincenzo reportedly didn’t like the idea of playing a reduced role with the Knicks, per @IanBegley
“DiVincenzo was probably going to be coming off the bench this season. Bridges would likely have taken his spot in the starting lineup. I can say confidently that… pic.twitter.com/FFOX0Jn2Tk
Last season was incredible for Donte DiVincenzo, who transitioned from a bench player to a starter under head coach Tom Thibodeau. He earned 63 starts, the second-most in his career. The player achieved personal best in several statistical categories, including minutes played per game (29.1), scoring average (15.5 points), and three-point shooting percentage (40.1%).
While the Timberwolves may not offer DiVincenzo a starting role with the face of the T-Wolves Anthony Edwards and veteran Mike Conley Jr. in the backcourt, his shooting prowess will likely make him a valuable asset. His ability to stretch the floor with his three-point shooting will be a key factor as he gets integrated into Minnesota’s rotation.
What do Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle bring to the table for the Timberwolves?
Fans were left in total disbelief when news trickled in that the Minnesota Timberwolves made a significant roster change by trading star center Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. This surprising move comes after the Timberwolves marked their first appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 20 years.
With the league’s resumption on the horizon, the Timberwolves will now shift their focus to integrating their new players into the lineup. Coach Chris Finch will need to adjust his rotations and find the best ways to utilize Randle and DiVincenzo and with the starting five which will remain largely unchanged, Randle is expected to fill Towns’ role alongside DPOY Rudy Gobert in the frontcourt.
The Wolves see this as a way of adding depth, leaning in on Edwards, McDaniels and Reid and lengthening the window of competitiveness. They have long coveted DiVincenzo. Randle’s scoring can help. The Detroit 1st is a significant asset moving forward.
The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski wrote on X
The Wolves see this as a way of adding depth, leaning in on Edwards, McDaniels and Reid and lengthening the window of competitiveness. They have long coveted DiVincenzo. Randle's scoring can help. The Detroit 1st is a significant asset moving forward.
As for DiVincenzo, his arrival has enhanced the Timberwolves’ three-point shooting capabilities. Furthermore, his ability to stretch the floor will complement Randle’s physical play and rim attacks, potentially resolving spacing issues which will help the T-Wolves compete better in the hotly contested Western Conference.
Ubong Richard is an NBA writer at FirstSportz. He has been an NBA writer since November 2023. His love for basketball and especially LeBron James makes his work inspiring and fun for readers worldwide. Ubong believes in adding value to any system, as this is his greatest skillset. He is currently a fourth year medical student studying to become a dental surgeon at the University of Calabar, Nigeria. If he’s not following NBA games, you can catch him watching football especially Chelsea games.
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