One of the important issues the Minnesota Timberwolves must clarify after this season is the future of Julius Randle.
Julius Randle was the main piece of the franchise’s trade with the New York Knicks at the expense of Karl-Anthony Towns. He holds a $30.9m player option in 2025-26, and it is expected he could opt out and seek a longer and bigger contract.
Many raised their eyebrows when Randle started his run with Minnesota, mainly due to his ball-dominant play style and the Western Conference Finals finish that the T-Wolves achieved with Towns last 2023-24. The All-Star even candidly admitted that he significantly struggled and adjusted his game to fit in.
Yet right now, T-Wolves fans are already loving what they are seeing from Randle as he appears to have finally figured it out in Minnesota. He saw his best stretch in Minnesota from last month, and several pundits including Channing Frye already offered apologies to the big man.
Julius Randle speaks on his future
Considering that New York served as his home and the place that catered his rise in becoming a three-time All-Star, never in his wildest imagination that Randle would witness himself landing in the Twin Cities.
Amid his new adventure with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Randle is open about hammering an extended partnership with the franchise.
In the team’s practice session last April 7, Randle dropped compelling words when asked if he sees himself being a Timberwolf for a foreseeable future.
“I would love to,” he said. “It’s a top to bottom organization, it’s been amazing, I love playing with these guys on this team.
“The city, my family’s adjusted really well, we love the neighbourhood we live it, we love our house, my kids are loving Minnesota, the cold somewhat, the snow days going out there, sleighing and that type of stuff.
“From a basketball standpoint, I love playing. I love playing for coach, Tim [Connelly] and all those guys have been amazing. A-Rod [Alex Rodriguez] and the support they’ve shown has been amazing as well.”
Randle established solid impression to be re-signed by Minnesota
Randle has helped Minnesota stick around as one of the contenders in the league this season, convincing franchise superstar Anthony Edwards to even claim that the Timberwolves won the deal with the Knicks for Towns.
He is currently averaging 18.7 points to go with 7.0 boards and 4.7 assists in 65 games across 32.2 minutes. And despite this relatively drop-off in his offensive numbers compared to his past seasons as a Knick, Randle has drawn lofty praise especially from head coach Chris Finch with regards to his selfless basketball.
While he is strongly interested to remain in Minneapolis, Randle only has one thing left adapt to: the city’s chilling weather.
“I adjusted pretty fast, the only thing I not adjusted to is the cold, I’m still not ready,” he admitted, even though he had expressed that his kids enjoyed it.
There is not a lot the Timberwolves can do about this, but every other box the team appear to be ticking.
