Timberwolves forward Julius Randle has emerged as perhaps the most intriguing potential free agent of the 2025 offseason, writes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
After trading five-time All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns to New York in exchange for a package headlined by Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, the Timberwolves made the Western Conference Finals for a second straight season, with Randle playing a major role in the team’s first- and second-round series wins over the Lakers and Warriors.
Bringing in Randle and DiVincenzo added play-making around incumbent All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards while giving the Timberwolves significantly more financial flexibility to try to re-sign free agent wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker and potential free agent Naz Reid this summer.
Sources tell Fischer that the Timberwolves viewed Randle as a better fit than Towns next to Edwards due to the veteran forward’s ability to score downhill and pass from the post.
As Fischer writes, it took the Timberwolves a year to fully integrate Rudy Gobert following their 2022 deal for the Frenchman, so they may be optimistic about Randle’s potential to get even more comfortable and continue meshing with Edwards in year two. However, Randle – who has a $30.9MM player option for 2025/26 – could also function as a potential salary-matching piece if Minnesota opts to renew its trade-deadline pursuit of Kevin Durant.
There’s more from Minnesota:
- Reid is expected to decline his $15.1MM player option and hit unrestricted free agency, according to Fischer. Although far more teams are projected to have major cap space next summer as opposed to 2025, Reid could earn some long-term security on a new deal now. He had a solid run during the 2024/25 regular season, but was a bit inconsistent during the playoffs.
- According to Fischer, the Timberwolves reached out to at least one Eastern Conference squad in an effort to get help acquiring Durant from the Suns before the trade deadline. Minnesota’s interest in the 15-time All-Star was said to be significant. The 2014 MVP may no longer be quite the defender he was during his Oklahoma City/Golden State prime, but he remains one of the best scorers in the game today, even at the relatively advanced age of 36. After Phoenix finished outside of the playoff mix with a 36-46 record, it seems quite possible a Durant trade could be on the table again this summer.
- In case you missed it, Orlando is viewed as a candidate to get involved in the bidding for Alexander-Walker this summer.
Naz is a starting caliber center that almost every team would like on their roster. He should command about $30m per year but if Minnesota keeps him they can’t afford to keep Gobert. This offseason should be interesting.
Meh. Not sure about that. He’s playing away from the basket a lot and at 6’9” has trouble handling the bigger centers. He’s more naturally a 4.
I could have swore he was taller…
his defense is not that good and is a hacker. He is a back up center if a team does give him $30 million a year they will regret it.
My prediction
Wolves have 55% chance to sign Reid
Other teams add together 45%
NAW walk for nothing 95%
Nobody is giving him 30 mill. He is a solid sixth man. A 4-5 but a small ball center. Only Pistons might offer a contract. Like article says. It would be yrs and security. Minny can only offer years. They are capped out. KD is something that could happen. Imo Minny doesn’t believe in Randle.
He’s a much better forward than he is a center.
Love Naz to death but he’s a perfect embodiment of an elite bench player and average starter he’s just not built for most systems to be the primary big
Warriors are favorite to acquire Naz Reid
Lakers are favorite to acquire Alexander Walker
According to sports outlets
6th seed Wolves may have hard time to make playoffs next year
Neither of thiose teams have any payroll to pay for a free agent. Both have MLE amount to sign a free agent.
Are you writing this because you believe the Minnesota Timberwolves want Jonathan Kuminga?
he is always making up trade idea with no sonsideration to payroll.
Yes, and he never answers back when we ask a question about his comment. Just drive-bys with no validity behind them.
But I do love it that he speaks with authority. I’m entertained by it and can laugh because he’s right about as often as I am, which is not frequently enough !! lol.
Me too and I’ve been trying to see how he/she generates their comments :)
Almost positive it’s a bot.
Source: Trust Me Bro
Randle will opt in and Naz opt out.
That’s fine let him leave. He’s been fantastic but you can’t pay everyone and if you give him say 20mil then your investing too much into one position considering you have Gobert.
I also wouldn’t be chasing a big name like KD.
You made the WCF with what you have led by a young SG. Your third option is a young SF they will get better. You need to invest in a real point guard, Mike Conley is 37 ….
NAW is likely gone this offseason too but Terrance Shannon Jr can replace him.
I’d be looking at Coby White or Colin Sexton for that point guard job. As I said on my other comment Lonzo Ball would be excellent but you can’t guarantee his health unfortunately.
After that I’d look into some cheap forwards for depth like Justice Winslow, TJ Warren or someone like that who would be available for the vets min. Then obviously back up centre Christian Wood would be an underrated good shout, Thomas Bryant has been good for the Pacers, Larry Nance would be a little undersized but solid, maybe Jaxson Hayes could be available, something like these guys.
You’ve got the 17th and 31st overall picks for trade assets, along with potential sign and trade agreements.
They’ll prob lose Reid. Detroit is rumored to have interest. It makes sense that the Pistons will push more chips into the pot.
Randle probably declines his option but could definitely re-sign there.
The Wolves probably replace Reid with one of their picks or someone like Thomas Bryant. Their big need is a pg. Schroder is a great fit there if they can make the $ work.
Yeah my comment on the piston post was they get Reid and TWolves should get a Bryant/Wood/Nance type to replace him.
All those guys can give you a good 15/20 off the bench, can play small ball and work in combo with Gobert while saving your team a bunch.
Although I think Randle either opts in or out and extends. Think he’s enjoyed playing with ANT and their playoff run he’s sick of jumping from team to team.
As for point guard Schroder is a good shout but I was more thinking traded with White and Sexton but Schroder in FA if you have the money that makes sense.
NAW isn’t a concern cause TSJ replaces him.
IMO
3 teams have a better chance to get Durant than Wolves
Spurs – tons of good picks. Harper Castle
Knicks – Towns in
Rockets / if Giannis is not available
Suns don’t need Gobert and Randle
Spurs are 12 million below the salary cap $154mm.
Sochan and Barnes have expiring contract
Spurs have zero interest in washed up veterans
Wolves got super lucky to make the WCF not because they were good, but because their opponents were bad.
It doesn’t matter much what they do in the offseason, because OKC is on another level.
Agree. Agree, and agree. (As usual.)
Barring a trade for KD, Minny projects to be worse, not better, relative to the rest of the West next season. Only Edwards and McDaniels are young, and they will lose at least 1, if not 2, of Randle, Reid, and Alexander-Walker as these 3 all get paid more.
The West next year is wide open. Minny could finish 6th as easily as 2nd.
Not much the difference between 6th and 2nd look at the playoffs.
Houston finished Second, Lakers third and both didn’t make it past the first round.
But agree Thunder are well ahead, followed by the Nuggets.
As for your take you have them with 1/2 players leaving but haven’t though about any additions or the other young players on smaller roles than can step up. Dillingham and Shannon Jr in particular.
I think this team is a point guard away from being right up there. Conley didn’t offer much out there you get a 15-20 points per game guy that can shoot 37% from 3 or better and this side is pushing Denver for second best in the West
> As for your take you have them with 1/2 players
> leaving but haven’t though about any additions or
> the other young players on smaller roles than can
> step up. Dillingham and Shannon Jr in particular.
Minny are more financially constrained than any team in the West. I also believe that they lose more roster value than any team in the West this summer.
They were very fortunate to have Naz, NAW, and Randle each making about $15M below what they’ll be paid next year. They paid $50M for ~$95M in value. That’s over.
I don’t believe they’ll be able to retain 2 of those 3. If they do, you’ll see other losses, like Devincenzo. This team will not look deep next season.
You’re right, I’m not counting on much from Dillingham or Shannon in their 2nd seasons. They’ll be better, but not nearly enough to make up the difference.
100% agree on the fact that no moves by Minnesota (or any other team in the West, for that matter) will have a major effect on the conference. I expect OKC to play in the finals next year, and it doesn’t matter who signs who, which rookie or any other young player blows up in the West, or if anybody trades for KD. None of that matters, OKC will cruise to the finals next year.
Teams literally cannot dribble the basketball out of their own half against OKC. Every team that plays them looks like they wish they weren’t on the court.
Two best GMs
Thunder and Spurs GMs
Two worst GMs
Two GMs have no basketball sense
Suns GM and 76ers GM
were you trying for a haiku?
At this point in their careers why would you trade Randle for Durant. Will GMs never learn that every team since the Warriors has gotten worse after adding Durant. He’s a cancer that just bounces from one team to the next.
Wolves should trade for Derozen.
TWolves are in cap purgatory. They can keep what have and pay the tax. They have two great picks this draft. Or they can make a trade now at draft. Or even by next yrs trade deadline. Randle will pick up his option.