Completing Karl-Anthony Towns trade costs Knicks second-round picks

CHARLESTON, S.C.– The Knicks payment to the Hornets for helping them get Karl-Anthony Towns is two second-round picks.In order to complete the blockbuster deal involving Towns, the Knicks and Timberwolves had to recruit a third team — the Hornets — to absorb players into cap space and allow the salaries to match.As a result, the Hornets agreed to take three Knicks players — Charlie Brown Jr., DaQuan Jeffries and Duane Washington Jr.

— along with two second-round picks from New York and one from Minnesota, according to The Athletic.As part of the deal, the Knicks reportedly acquired the rights to James Nnaji from the Hornets.Nnaji, a center from Nigeria, was the 31st overall pick in the 2023 draft.

He has been playing overseas, recently underwent back surgery and is unlikely to play in the NBA this season.The Knicks are also sending Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a lottery-protected first-round pick to the Timberwolves for Towns.Because the deal wasn’t finalized by Tuesday afternoon, Towns couldn’t participate in the first day of Knicks training camp in Charleston.Mikal Bridges officially started his Knicks career Tuesday with an understanding that his previous stint in Brooklyn, while a frustrating disappointment, was also a valuable learning experience.“Yeah, it was tough in Brooklyn, we were losing.

Even personally, I think I didn’t handle it as well as I could,” Bridges said after finishing his first practice with the Knicks in training camp.“I always preach mental toughness and never losing your spirit.

But it was just something I never dealt with like that.And, I think it was just a lot just for that team in general when I was there and the expectation for everybody and I think I didn’t handle it as good as I should have.“But coming here, it’s good.

Everybody’s locked in and everybody’s motivated and coach [Tom Thibodeau] got everybody locked in.So it’s great to be here.”With the Nets, Bridges took on the burden of...