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.

The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the trade is official. The Knicks plan to send Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick to the Timberwolves as part of the blockbuster trade just as training camps are getting ready to open for most teams.