Knicks did right by Donte DiVincenzo

The New York Knicks are sending Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the reported trade to bring Karl-Anthony Towns to Madison Square Garden .

DiVincenzo enjoyed a breakout season for Tom Thibodeau's team last season. The Villanova product averaged 15.5 points, 2.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 40.1% from three-point range on 8.7 attempts per night. However, he was expected to play a reduced role in the upcoming season due to the arrival of Mikal Bridges.

According to SNY's Ian Begley , DiVincenzo had vocalized his reluctance to accept a smaller role within the rotation heading into the new season.

“I can say confidently that DiVincenzo didn’t exactly love the idea of playing fewer minutes/a reduced role this season," Begley said. "He was coming off of a career year and helped the team win a ton of games when it was shorthanded.”

New York has pushed its chips all in this summer. It spent a significant amount of draft capital to bring Bridges into the fold. If DiVincenzo could become a distraction or spread discontent throughout the locker room, moving him now was an intelligent decision. The Knicks are sending him to a situation where he can continue to contend for a championship while also having a legitimate role to play.

In return, the Knicks get a player they've reportedly coveted for over a year. Towns provides the floor spacing necessary to get the best out of Jalen Brunson and the high-level slashers on the roster. He also gives New York a reliable presence in the middle of the floor and reduces their reliance on the injury-plagued Mitchell Robinson.

The Knicks will miss the sharpshooting and perimeter defense that DiVincenzo brought to the table. However, by doing right for him now, they improve their reputation among players around the league. DiVincenzo had earned the right to be a big player for Thibodeau, and when it became clear that wasn't possible, the front office pivoted toward a deal that made sense for everybody.

Neither side can have any complaints about how things turned out.