Karl-Anthony Cities might not be “flabbergasted” anymore — the phrase he used to explain his response to the blockbuster commerce that despatched him to the Knicks — however the shock has but to put on off, both.
He’s nonetheless adjusting to his new environment, nonetheless getting accustomed to new teammates and nonetheless making an attempt to course of the seismic change in his life.
He has but to discover a new place to reside, and has solely had a handful of days again in New York because the beautiful transfer.
“Even at dinner final night time, me and my girlfriend had been having dinner. She checked out me and he or she simply tapped me on the shoulder and he or she stated, ‘Can you actually imagine that is our life now?’ ” the gifted 7-foot Piscataway, N.J. native stated on Friday. “And we’re each nonetheless in shock. It’s positively nonetheless there. I’m having moments the place even for me being on social media, very uncommon occasions that I do, or I’m getting a Timberwolves replace on my cellphone, and I’m form of confused by plenty of issues.”
It has been a whirlwind.
Three days earlier than the Knicks held media day, information broke that they had been buying and selling for the 28-year-old Cities and sending Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves.
Then, it was off to Charleston, S.C. for coaching camp.
The common season is now 10 days away.
That’s rather a lot to course of in a brief time period.
Add onto that, Cities will see his previous crew, the Timberwolves, Sunday night time on the Backyard in a preseason recreation.
Discuss odd coincidences.
“Yeah, it’s going to be bizarre,” Cities stated with a smile. “It’s going to be very bizarre on Sunday.”
As he mentioned the Timberwolves, Cities gave a shoutout to level guard Mike Conley Jr., who turned 37 years previous on Friday, and laughed on the concept of speaking trash to Anthony Edwards on Sunday.
“That’s my brother,” he stated. “I hear his title and I begin smiling.”
In 9 seasons in Minnesota, Cities was a four-time All-Star and helped the Timberwolves attain the Western Convention finals final spring.
He turned a max-contract participant.
Then, hastily, he was gone.
He’s nonetheless getting used to his new life, though he hasn’t essentially seemed misplaced as far as a Knick.
In his Backyard debut, he poured in 25 factors and added 12 rebounds and two blocks in a win over the Wizards, showcasing the expertise the Knicks can now boast from their middle.
A Cities-Jalen Brunson pick-and-roll has at occasions seemed dynamic within the preseason, two elite shotmakers forcing the protection to choose its poison.
Cities credited everybody with the Knicks, from coaches to teammates to executives, with making him really feel snug in his new residence each on and off the courtroom.
“They’ve been affected person with me and proceed to seek out methods to attempt to assist me on this course of,” he stated.
Maybe, going through the Timberwolves on Sunday will likely be good for Cities, as a solution to give him closure. It is going to little question be unusual for him.
However, in the long term, it may function a constructive.
Get the reunion out of the best way earlier than the video games begin to depend.
“It’s the enterprise. It’s the sport,” Cities stated. “Received to go on the market and compete at a excessive degree.”
