Donte DiVincenzo has established himself as a key rotation player with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But before joining the Wolves, DiVincenzo was making a splash with the New York Knicks, as a member of the team’s Villanova Wildcats trio alongside Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
Unfortunately, his time was cut short as the Knicks decided to move in another direction, opting to trade their star Julius Randle to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from the Wolves, with the guard being included as part of the package.
After being traded, DiVincenzo had a brief exchange during a preseason game with the Knicks head coach, Tom Thibodeau, that could be considered unsavory. Given the nature of this encounter, it was evident that there was some bad blood.
However, even after an impressive season, Thibodeau finds himself out of the head coaching job, creating a situation for a potential Wildcats reunion in New York. To facilitate this, Sports Illustrated’s Dave Holcomb presented a trade package that would allow the Knicks to bring back DiVincenzo.
Proposed Trade Details
New York Knicks Receive: Donte DiVincenzo
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Miles McBride, Guerschon Yabusele
This trade would play a significant role in upgrading the Knicks’ overall roster. With the addition of the 28-year-old, New York would essentially be reinstating a key player into the rotation, enhancing their overall backcourt flexibility.
DiVincenzo’s time with the Knicks was brief, but valuable. In 81 games, with 63 starts, the guard posted an average of 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, emerging as a valuable contributor.
Last season, the guard saw a drop-off in performance. With fewer minutes, his scope for contributing was also restricted. He still proved himself to be a valuable piece, as he posted an average of 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, while shooting 42.2% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range.
On the current Knicks roster, he would effectively fit into the role of the primary ball-handler off the bench or the secondary distributor while playing alongside Brunson. Although his scope as a playmaker is limited, DiVincenzo is a lethal perimeter shooter and a reliable on-ball defender.
The 28-year-old is not an outstanding athlete, nor is he an otherworldly talent. But his consistent effort, his grit, and his hustle make him an immensely valuable role player. With this, he could carve out a place for himself in Mike Brown’s new-look Knicks.
This trade also has some merit for the Timberwolves. While parting with DiVincenzo would create a vacancy in the backcourt rotation, the acquisition of Miles McBride could prove to be worthwhile.
McBride is viewed as a solid two-way guard. While acting as a reliable on-ball defender, the 24-year-old also became a competent shooter and tertiary scorer.
The majority of McBride’s exploits last season were on the defensive end, complementing the Knicks’ identity under Thibodeau. Using his long wingspan and impressive defensive IQ, the young guard emerged as a valuable defensive presence in the rotation.
Last season, in 24.9 minutes played per game, McBride recorded an average of 9.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, on shooting splits of 40.6% from the field, 36.9% from three-point territory, and 81.3% from the charity stripe.
His addition could be quite valuable for the Wolves, especially as a backup for Mike Conley. Although he lacks the playmaking ability to orchestrate the offense, he could be a significant boost to their perimeter defense.
Along with McBride, the Wolves would also see the arrival of big man Guerschon Yabusele. The Knicks only recently signed the forward in free agency. When considering the role he played with the Philadelphia 76ers last season, the Wolves would see this as a significant addition to their roster.
Last season, Yabusele received more playing time as key players in the rotation were sidelined with injury. In this period, the French forward cemented himself as a solid inside presence, while also showcasing flexibility as a floor-spacing big man.
Last season, the 29-year-old recorded an average of 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds, while shooting 50.1% from the field and 38.0% from three-point range.
At 6’8″, Yabusele could really shore up Minnesota’s second unit. Next to Naz Reid, who also acts as a stretch big man, the Knicks forward could effectively act as a counterpoint, giving the Wolves a lot of flexibility with managing the minutes of their starting frontcourt.
Overall, this trade could significantly round out the Wolves’ roster, providing them with the necessary depth to contend for the title next season.
Neither Team Needs To Do This Deal
While this trade has mutual benefits for both teams involved, neither team really needs to do this trade. Many analysts tend to critique the move, but the reality is that the Towns-Randle swap worked out well for both teams involved.
With the Wolves and the Knicks both making it to the Conference Finals last season, it was abundantly clear that the teams have the necessary pieces to make a title charge.
New York has made the necessary adjustments this offseason, and by investing in its core, it has ensured that it will remain competitive in the future as well. Meanwhile, the Wolves are building around Anthony Edwards, a superstar who is capable of leading them to the promised land.
Moving rotation pieces around wouldn’t necessarily be of much benefit to either team at this stage. Ensuring that the key pieces develop chemistry with the rest of the roster and familiarize themselves with their roles will have a far more significant impact once the new season is underway.
