Just one year after joining the New York Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of the last training camp, marking a surprising turn given his breakout season with the team. DiVincenzo set a franchise record for most three-pointers made in a single season, but the Knicks opted to trade him to facilitate acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns in a major offseason trade.
The blockbuster deal also sent All-NBA forward Julius Randle to Minnesota, significantly reshaping New York’s roster. Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson expressed on ESPN’s Get Up that the Knicks lost an important element with DiVincenzo’s departure, suggesting his trade impacted the team’s on-court presence dramatically.
The swagger left the Knicks when [DiVincenzo] got traded, and they don’t have that swagger again,
Johnson said (h/t Yahoo! Sports’ Mitch Fink).
See, they got nice guys, but they don’t have tough, mean guys, and that’s what Donte brought to the table.
DiVincenzo’s tenacity and aggressive style added a gritty edge that energized the Knicks and made them more formidable as a group. His physical play and commitment to his teammates quickly earned him a following among fans and teammates alike.
Knicks Struggled to Maintain Previous Season’s Energy and Cohesion
During the most recent season, the Knicks appeared to lack the same enthusiasm and drive that had characterized their prior campaign. Although the team displayed moments of resilience and determination, they often seemed unfocused and disjointed on the court. This drop in energy coincided with the dramatic roster changes occurring just before the season’s start, which disrupted team chemistry.
Many observers linked this lack of synchronization to the upheaval caused by the late offseason trade activity, with the Knicks having difficulty mounting consistent challenges both in the regular season and playoffs. There is hope that continuity in the roster moving forward will restore the group’s cohesion and intensity.
Meanwhile, DiVincenzo experienced a downturn in production during his first year with Minnesota, hindered in part by injuries. Despite this, the Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals for a second straight year, demonstrating the team’s competitive success post-trade.
Overall, while the trade may have made strategic sense and benefited both franchises, the Knicks undeniably miss DiVincenzo’s shooting and the energy he infused into their lineup.