The Timberwolves‘ decision last summer to trade Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo ended up being a rare win-win deal, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski writes in a mailbag article.
Randle not only turned in a very positive second half to the season and first-round series against the Lakers, but thanks to his (relatively) smaller cap hit, he allowed the team to prioritize building its depth in a way it wouldn’t have with Towns’ salary, which was worth $5MM more than Randle and DiVincenzo combined last season.
This flexibility was used this offseason to get under the second apron without having to part with key players like Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, or recently extended Naz Reid. Doing so with Towns in the fold would have been nearly impossible, and would have forced the Wolves into even harder choices than they already had to make when it came to retaining their players.
We have more from the Wolves:
- Another important pickup from the trade with the Knicks was the Pistons’ lottery-protected pick, which ended up conveying and becoming Joan Beringer, thanks to Detroit exceeding expectations. Krawczynski writes that while it’s likely that Beringer plays some minutes for the G League affiliate in Iowa early in the year, the team has made clear it expects him to spend much of this season with the main club as a depth piece behind Gobert, Randle and Reid.
- While DiVincenzo’s debut season in Minnesota was inconsistent, Krawczynski notes that there were positive moments, especially during a small stretch when he was asked to play point guard for the team. DiVincenzo averaged 17.5 points per game and shot 42% on three-pointers in a six-game run where the Wolves went 4-2. Given Mike Conley‘s age, Krawczynski says it’s entirely possible DiVincenzo gets a crack at the fifth starter spot. The Wolves also have sophomore point guard Rob Dillingham waiting in the wings, but it’s unclear if the 20-year-old is ready to take that leap on a team with title aspirations.
- The Wolves have managed to walk the tightrope of being back-to-back Western Conference Finalists while also building a strong core for the future, led by Anthony Edwards and also including Reid, Jaden McDaniels, Beringer, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Dillingham, each of whom is 26 or younger. Given the team’s flexible outlook and recent track record of success, Krawczynski has deemed this the Golden Age of Timberwolves basketball. While there are still decisions for new owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore to figure out moving forward, they have a strong foundation to ensure the team is competitive for years to come.
We have good things, finally!!
Shhh… cmon bro, you know better than to say that out loud
Randle, Donte, Beringer is a nice haul tor Towns. TWolves have a solid core. Dillingham is the guy they need to step up most. Conley is a bench guy now. Dillingham can give them major mins (26). They can be a top team in West. West is tough and deep this year.
Shouldn’t of picked Dillingham. Too small and very questionable decision making. Not a good defender or a high IQ guy who can create for others. Thought they were drafting the next Mike Conley and got it wrong big time in my opinion. A young Conley, Rajon or Stockton type, sure. Draft that guy. He ain’t that, never will be. Be lucky to get another contract. Dillingham be playing in the NBL soon enough.
Dillingham won’t even be 21 until January, and the Wolves only played him 10.5 min/gm last season. He’s clearly a project with the 8th pick in the draft after playing 1 season for Kentucky.
He should get more minutes this season and I expect his offense to be much better than in his rookie season. It remains to be seen as to how is defense improves, but it’s way too soon to call him a bust.
Dillingham is a bench scorer at best. He looks like a jr. high school player on the floor.
I would take that bet.
Can they sign Westbrook? That would be a nice starter/bench guy for them.
I bet Westbrook would love to get signed by the Wolves. I doubt they’re interested though.
My Germany vs Turkiye gold medal game prediction is looking shaky rn as Sweden holds a 5pt halftime lead over undefeated Turkiye in the 1st knockout stage game of the tournament. Sweden started out hot & their offense stayed in a pretty good rhythm throughout. Pelle Larrson is their best player & he’s playing great so far but the big story to me has been Simon Birgander outplaying Alpo Sengün so far.
Turkiye’s best 2 players, Sengün & Shane Larkin have both struggled so far but they’re starting to wake up & their last 2 buckets helped spark a run that has given the Turks a 4pt lead halfway thru the 3rd. Meanwhile Sweden getting clamped on the other side of the court. They only have 2pts in the 1st 5mins of the quarter
Sweden didn’t make a trey all qtr, Larrson or Birgander didn’t scored all qtr & Turkiye found their offensive rhythm (especially Sengün). This has resulted in a 8pt deficit for Sweden going into the 4th. They got a steep hill to climb in this last 10mins. Knocking down a few early treys would go a long way…
Turkiye hit another dry spell & Ludvig Hakanson’s trey ties it up w/ 6 mins to go…
Cedi Osman arguably been Turkiye’s best player in the game. He just gave his team a 2pt lead w/ a couple clutch fts but he also just picked up his 4th foul. 2mins to go, Sweden has the ball down 2
Huge back to back plays by Adem Bona (defensively) & Sengün (offensively) give Turkiye a 4pt lead & control of the game, 1min left
Wrong place to post all this.
How was the Randle trade a win-win lmao
It’s like salary dump is the only thing that matters. I think NYC isn’t happy with Towns is the only reason for a “win-win”.
Randle plays poor def and turns the ball over too much, so he has to have mega-games to make up for this. Donte, high hopes but if he can’t hit 3s in back to back years it’s time to trade him. Good playmaker though, so maybe PG is a better spot with Edwards.
It’s true Towns can be better on D.
Yet he’s had his best all around year yet. So you look for improvement. I know you can never see that.
Yeas Randle and Donte didn’t have good years. They had solid second halve seasons.
So considering all your negative takes. Both teams are in Conference Finals. In their first year playing together. Both have added players for this year.
And you are still floating negativity.
How can this not be a win win ….
They did well *in spite of* Randle and Donte. Did they always have terrible games, no. But anyone watching Jalen Williams annihilate Randle on D knows that Randles stats never show the real picture other than his 4-5 turnovers a game leading to 8-10 pts. So I’d he scores 40, he’s prob helping but at 25 he’s a liability and that’s usually his stat line.
Randle averaged 2.8 turnovers last year. Also, remember that he’s not paid like a star (like KAT). I think most of the Randle hate comes from people thinking he is supposed to be better than he is (or better than he’s paid to be).
Because there are people who think that KAT isn’t on a terrible contract…
Both teams didnt end up tanking or fighting for the play in…
So technically neither team really lost…
Both teams made it to the conference finals. you make it sound like they were only slightly better than average.
That in reality is what bowing out in the conference finals is…
Not mediocre like a play in team…
Not terrible like a lottery team…
Not average like a first or second round exit…
Both teams would be closer to contender status if they didn’t have glaring holes to fill…
The Knicks fixed their Thibs problem… But have to work around KAT… Which Brown didnt do well with Sabonis another talented 4…
And the Wolves have 2 ageing defence first players in Conley and Gobert…
Both teams can be deadly on their night… but being consistently deadly against different teams through the playoffs is questionable…
Both teams are a trade away from having the right pieces…
This team fell apart when OKC upped the ball pressure and they did nothing at all to help that, they actually lost one of the few capable ball handlers they had without replacing him. The Dillingham pick was terrible. They need a legit running mate for Ant that can take some pressure off him and they traded future assets for a bench scorer that cant play any defense. Then they drafted 2 young centers who wont help for a few years. If they have same starters this season Ant will have even less space to work. I love Naz but paying him that much to be a bench player is insane. Guess they have till trade deadline to do something, but if they dont I can’t see how they past second round unless every other team that did improve themselves are all injured.
You absolutely got no clue who Dillinham is. So I won’t waste my time on someone who doesn’t even know his true measurements.
Dillinham is potential and the future. He has the best handle on team now. He is a legit scorer. He roes have to prove his play making. What could you possibly know about him that makes him fail.
I’m rooting for Rob, but when people say he’s got potential, they are just saying he isn’t good…right now.
Clark and Shannon are the two to watch.
I kind of agree. Why draft a 18/19 year old when your star player is coming into his own and is about to be 24? You should be looking and trading for players the same age as Edwards. McDaniels fits, two veterans starting is good but they either need a sixth man PG right now or a starting PG with Conley taking a step down. There is still a hole at PG.
They have a good real young team but it’s after Edwards timeline hahaha
Dillinham is 6’3” and 180lbs. Still growing.
This is excellent size for a PG. All scouts only disagree on whether he can start at PG or be a sixth man scorer.
Why would you judge and trash a 20 yr old player. Who hasn’t even played yet……..
Because life for the majority of people sucks…
So to feel better some people will find a kid getting paid millions to play a game to moan about…
I agree… far to early to write off… PGs need a few seasons to learn the NBA before they can be judged fully…
Dilly is 6’1” without shoes and 175. But I’m with you on thinking he’ll be a good player.