The Minnesota Timberwolves opened their offseason with a big move by trading Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets. For a team that seemed to have its share of rainy days throughout last season, Randle’s departure has been welcomed as if the skies cleared and a rainbow appeared on the horizon.
But just as Wolves fans celebrate and try to figure out who will replace him, they’ll also have to remember what it’s like to face him when the Nets visit Target Center on Nov. 23.
Julius Randle will be extra motivated when he faces the Timberwolves on Nov. 23
Despite what recency bias Wolves fans may have against Randle, he’s carved out a pretty good career. In 12 seasons, Randle has averaged 19.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He also has shot 47.2 percent from the floor overall and 33.2 percent on 3-pointers. But as Wolves fans know, that game can depend on how he’s feeling on his way to the arena.
If Randle is coming in against a random opponent, there’s no guarantee on what you’re going to get. But if he faces a former team, Randle’s game usually goes up a notch.
Over the past two seasons, Randle faced his former team, the New York Knicks four times. In those games, Randle averaged 22.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists but he also shot better, with a 50.0 clip overall and a 35.0 percent clip on 3-pointers.
Randle’s other former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, have also felt his wrath on the court as he’s put up 24.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 47.4 percent from the floor and 32.1 percent on 3-pointers in 19 career meetings.
The New Orleans Pelicans were a one-year detour in Randle’s career and haven’t felt the same effect with Randle averaging 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 12 games after he left the team after the 2018-19 season. But there could be some added motivation for him when he sees the Timberwolves next season.
Julius Randle has plenty of motivation to make the Timberwolves regret trading him
Randle has been the scapegoat for the Timberwolves this summer as the team suffered from what Naz Reid called “moodiness” throughout last season. Randle’s response to trade rumors that had him headed to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t do himself any favors but he played disconnected despite averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
There’s a chance that all the talk could be shrugged off. But after The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski confirmed that February’s rumors played a role in his poor performance, it’s a solid bet that Randle has heard all of it and will use it as fuel.
That could be bad news for the Timberwolves. In 23 games against Minnesota, Randle has averaged 21.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists. His shooting has also gone up a notch, averaging 50.9 percent from the floor and 39.0 percent on 3-pointers.
Wolves fans saw it first hand as Randle hit an extra gear when he saw the Knicks and there’s a good chance he could do the same when he plays Minnesota next season. But while Randle can get all the shots he wants on a rebuilding Nets team, it’s still the kind of trap game that the Wolves fell into frequently during his two seasons on the team.
If Randle comes to play, it could make both matchups against the Nets – with the second one coming on Feb. 9 in Brooklyn – that much tougher and remind Wolves fans how tough it was to play against Randle before he came to Minnesota.
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