For the first time in a decade, the Timberwolves held their annual Media Day without Karl-Anthony Towns, who they agreed to trade to the New York Knicks on Friday.

But Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle – whom Minnesota acquired in the deal – also weren’t present for the festivities. The trade isn’t yet “official.” The hope is it becomes official as soon as Tuesday, so all involved parties can be on the floor when training camp begins.

That left Minnesota in a weird time of transition Monday, caught in between who it lost and who it gained. Because of NBA regulations, basketball boss Tim Connelly and coach Chris Finch couldn’t even address the still unofficial transaction Monday. But players could, and while they expressed excitement about what their new teammates can bring to an already stellar roster, they also noted they’ll miss the all-star big man.

Rudy Gobert called the trade a “big surprise” – not one you’d expect to take place so close to training camp. He said he was still processing the transaction as of Monday. Gobert himself was traded to Minnesota just two summers ago in a move than was somewhat doubted by many in the locker room.

But Towns was quick to not only accept Gobert, but make him feel at home in Minnesota. That was a common occurrence. When D’Angelo Russell arrived in Minnesota, Towns was there to greet the guard as he walked off the plane with Russell’s new jersey. When Dario Saric and Robert Covington came to the Wolves in a trade, they had new winter coats waiting for them, courtesy of Towns.

“Obviously KAT is someone that I have a lot of love and respect for. We had two years together, and I’m really grateful for the time that we spent together,” Gobert said. “Since Day 1, he embraced me. He did anything he could to help me be the best version of myself on and off the court. So I’m really grateful for that.”

“He’s an incredible guy,” added Naz Reid. “He definitely thinks of you before him, very unselfish. A guy you want to be around.”

Gobert, Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley all noted trades like the one that took place Friday are part of the business of the NBA. But, as Conley noted, “it’s the sad part of the business.”

“You get comfortable with guys and you form relationships with people – and not just them, but their families and everybody who has been around them,” Conley said. “Obviously, KAT, what he means to the city, to our team, he’s a very special individual. Him and his family, it hurts (to lose them).”

Conley noted he understands the reasoning of the move. The team entirely trusts Connelly and the moves he makes. Conley also said that, from his understanding, the Timberwolves as an organization did right by Towns via the professionalism with which they executed the deal.

Edwards said he was on a flight when everything was taking place Friday night, so he couldn’t speak to the organization, nor Towns. But when he landed, he quickly connected with his now former running mate and they took a trip down memory lane, reliving the “incredible” relationship they formed in a few short seasons.

“I mean, I think everybody knows KAT’s my brother,” Edwards said. “Like, we talked on the phone, through messages, talking to each other about everything, how it started.”

And now it’s over. Minnesota will continue its pursuit of a title with a high-level roster that can still win big, albeit likely in a different way now without Towns.

The big man will, too, be chasing a championship. He joins a Knicks roster with the pieces also to do so. His former teammates wish him the best of luck in that endeavor.

“You never know what’s good, what’s bad. Who is the winner, who is the loser? I think time usually reveals that,” Gobert said. “But yeah, definitely gonna miss him. I know he’s gonna do great in New York. I wish him the best, always. He is a very kind human being. I’m grateful that we were able to, in the short amount of time that we got, to show that we could make pretty good things happen as a team, as teammates. Wish him the best, looking forward to seeing how he does.”