The Timberwolves and forward Julius Randle have agreed to terms on a multiyear deal, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The new contract will replace Randle’s player option for 2025/26 and will be worth $100MM over three years, according to Charania, who reports that it will include a third-year player option for ’27/28.
After being sent from the Knicks to the Timberwolves in the Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster right at the start of training camp last fall, Randle took some time to adjust to the change of scenery and didn’t score or shoot as much during his first year as a Timberwolf as he had gotten accustomed to during his years in New York.
However, the 30-year-old ultimately had another productive season as a scorer, rebounder, and play-maker in Minnesota, putting up averages of 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in 69 outings, with a shooting line of .485/.344/.806. The Timberwolves were 44-25 during the regular season in games he played and 5-8 in the ones he missed.
Randle’s deal is the second major contract agreement the Timberwolves have reached with a member of their frontcourt between the end of the draft and the official start of free agency. Minnesota also struck a five-year, $125MM deal with Naz Reid.
The two contracts will push the Wolves’ team salary to the brink of the second tax apron for 2025/26, and I expect the club will be reluctant to surpass that threshold again after operating as a second-apron team in ’24/25. That means free agent guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker will end up elsewhere, as Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic confirms (via Twitter).
Depending on the exact terms of Randle’s new contract, it’s possible it could be completed as a veteran extension in June rather than as a free agent deal in July. If that’s the case, he would remain trade-eligible this offseason. If not, he’ll be ineligible to be dealt until December 15.
Sounds like goodbye to NAW.
The types of franchises that commit to randle long term are not good ones
He’s been on three teams for more than one season.. The Lakers, Knicks and T-Wolves aren’t good franchises? What are you even talking about?
That contract is a solid one vs others. He produces and one of the rare players that was able to handle the Thibs load. Defense may not be great and questionable decisions from time-to-time (forcing a play mostly), but he’s done nothing but produce.
No team is ever winning with Edwards and Randle as their one two punch.
They made it to the Western Conference Finals. If they had a better PG and a C with any offensive skills they might make it to the finals.
Twice. they made it to the WCFs twice. I think it’s a tough sell to convince people that the team and its players are actually bad, but people on here really try.
Where they lost in 5 games both times.
And…? Would you rather they lose before the WCF? I don’t get it.
Also, let’s recognize that Dallas got extremely hot and were playing out of their minds. That was not a more talented roster top to bottom than Minnesota’s. They were a hot team who matched up well with the Wolves.
And you don’t get points for losing in the conference finals.
I don’t care if they make it to 10 WCF in a row. No team will ever win a a championship with Edwards and Randle as their duo.
“And you don’t get points for losing in the conference finals.”
Very much a fan perspective, and that’s precisely why you don’t make personnel decisions at a professional level. Making it to the WCF finals means they’ve put themselves in a better position than 26 other teams and have a dang good shot to win it all if things break correctly. As long as they have Ant and he continues to elevate, they have a chance. It’s also extremely strange you keep lumping him into that statement like he isn’t a 22 year old who keeps improving. He’s probably 3 years from his prime.
Everyone also said Giannis couldn’t win with Middleton as his 2. Well, that happened.
Jrue was more important to that team than Middleton was.
Did the Wolves management see the same WCF that we all saw? Jalen Williams is licking his chops 1 on 1 ISO against 30.
Waste of money.
I wish Wolves had Pascal, not Randle.
All 29 teams that played Oklahoma looked poor this season. If that’s the measuring stick, then just about every player in this league is a waste.
I don’t mind it at $33M. Keeps the core together, which will hopefully help Ant elevate his game.
With b2b western conference finals appearances, they probably figure it’s worth a shot seeing what this core can do rather than switching out substantial pieces once again. I can’t fault them for that.
Who do you suggest the Timberwolves acquire as a starting PF who can shut down Jalen Williams?
After signing Reid and Randle, …..
If getting rid of Garza and Minot
Wolves team payroll = $197 million
Second Apron = $208 million
likely
Trade Alexander Walker to Hawks for TPE and 3 Second Round picks?
Not sure NAW can be traded. He’s an unrestricted free agent. Also, they don’t free up any money to use the TPE. If they can trade him I would take anything at all since they can’t keep him.
Bad move.
Great point! Your reasoning is flawless. And, thank you for backing up your claim so well. You really added to the conversation!
Randle + Naz > KAT. And KAT is more expensive than both combined. This was the whole point of the trade last year.
It’s really nice having competent management finally.
The amount of Randle hate is shocking to me, btw. OKC series was bad but everyone was slobbering after the Lakers series. At 33ish/year, totally fine with this.
Agree the ext actually gives him more value on the market as well if they ever decided to break it up
Don’t bother with the comments. According to folks writing those, there are only 30 players in the league who are worth what they are getting or worth anything in a trade, the rest are “a waste” and “should retire immediately nobody will miss him”.
It’s really weird considering those struggles are obviously priced into the contract. 3/100 in today’s NBA is not elite player money. It’s good to very good player money and, for all his faults, Randle is that.
Maybe he’s not ideal, but what else were the Wolves supposed to do here? At least the contract is tradeable at only three years.
Have to include losing NAW on the other side of that as well….
I’d rather have NAW than Randle. His stat line tells half the story and leaves out 6-10pts handed to the other team in easy baskets off turnovers. And terrible defense means he’s a negative asset player.
That’s wild. NAW would disappear for major stretches at a time. Even if he only gets a $15M AAV, Randle at $33M > NAW at $15M, plus there’s a decent chance he gets more.
NAW is a rotational player, not a foundational starter who can get a bucket at any time. I don’t understand fans who want to lower our ceiling.
Thats a fair deal for Randle. Their core is solid. What they need is a pass first PG. Dillingham has to step up. Schroder instead of Conley on this team. You’d see a big difference. Twolves are still finding their chemistry. They finished top 4 in West. And all the complainers come out. I bet most of you who complain about this. Support a team that sucks ……
Conley averaged 6 shots a game and when has Shroder ever been a pass first point guard? lmao
Very good deal for MIN. 2k’ers will never like him, but MIN was wise to ignore them here (actually it’s always wise to ignore them). Basically, any time you can get a 3 time All NBA player for the balance of his prime, at an 33 mm AAV (when the max rate is over 50 mm), you sign the papers and figure the rest out later. Randle can giveth and taketh, for sure, but his net contributions could never be replaced by guys available at this price point.
Randle gets paid like a third best player but people criticize him as if he is the second best player. In a production per dollar context he has always been worth the money.