Julius Randle was always going to arrive in the Twin Cities with a target on his back. He was the primary trade piece in the blockbuster deal sending Minnesota Timberwolves franchise cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. He came to the Wolves as damaged goods, coming off a shoulder injury. His reputation of crumbling under playoff pressure followed him from team to team.
Many around the league saw the Wolves taking a step back, just months removed from a Western Conference Finals run that matched the deepest playoff push in team history. They broke up their best team in years due to money. And up until now, those detractors looked to be correct. The Wolves struggled out of the gate. Rather than battling for the top seed, Minnesota is mired in a mess of teams trying to avoid the play-in tournament. But as of late, things are looking up.
The Timberwolves Have a Julius Randle Problem. Is He Too Good?
Randle’s Contributions to Winning Are Significant
In the last ten games Randle has played in, the Wolves are a perfect 10-0. A pesky groin injury kept the former All-Star out of the lineup for 13 games between two five-game win streaks. Since returning from that injury, Randle is averaging a respectable 17.6 points per game, 8.2 rebounds, and a remarkable 7.2 assists. The team is flowing. Anthony Edwards no longer has to score 40 points for them to eke out wins. Naz Reid can return to his role as leader of the second unit, feasting on opposing bench bigs. Donte DiVincenzo, the other piece of the KAT trade, is finding his rhythm from deep.
Minnesota’s remaining schedule ranks easiest among all Western Conference teams. After a Western Conference Finals rematch Wednesday night, they play five straight games at home. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors, currently one spot above them, are entering a difficult stretch of games. Minnesota has a legitimate chance to end the season as high as fifth, something that looked unattainable earlier this season.
So, What’s the Problem Then?
Looming this offseason is Randle’s player option, nearly $31 million. Opting in could prevent the Wolves from resigning fan favorites Nickeil Alexander-Walker or the aforementioned Reid. If Randle’s recent strong play continues into the postseason, he significantly raises the floor of this roster. It would be a no-brainer to keep him around. But if his numbers drop-off come playoff time, as usual during his time in New York, Minnesota might be trapped in a situation that costs them roster flexibility and depth for next year.
With an aging Rudy Gobert on the books, and Edwards’ max contract kicking in, money gets tight. Obviously, the best case scenario is that Randle and Edwards continue to mesh well, the team makes another deep run, and starts fresh next fall with a summer of training camp together. But, Randle is a notoriously streaky star. Who knows what could happen come the pressure of the playoffs? Minnesota will have some major decisions to make that will affect their timeline, and specifically their window of opportunity with Edwards nearing his prime.
© Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
The post The Timberwolves Have a Julius Randle Problem. Is He Too Good? appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.