Nobody is talking about the advantages Julius Randle gives the Timberwolves

One of the biggest parts of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ offseason was re-signing Julius Randle to a three-year $100 million extension. Randle, who was traded to the Wolves shortly before the 2024-25 season, proved to be an ideal fit next to Anthony Edwards. While Randle did get off to a somewhat slow start, he eventually found his groove in the second half of the season and was stellar in the playoffs. Randle averaged 21.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on 50.2/38.5/88 shooting splits in the playoffs. 

Randle’s elite shot creation abilities make him a perfect fit next to Edwards. Having another shot creator next to Edwards takes the pressure off Ant and makes the Wolves’ offense far less predictable. Undoubtedly, Randle adds more upside to the Wolves' offense.

Randle's shot creation is vital to the Wolves' success

The Wolves' offense improved from 17th in the 2023-24 season to eighth with Randle in the 2024-25 season. The addition of Donte DiVincenzo also helped this improvement. Nevertheless, having a capable creator in Randle next to Ant paired with Edwards’ growth as a shooter is the main reason for this improvement. 

Every title team needs a high-level secondary creator, and Randle is just that for the Wolves. If Randle’s 3-point shooting numbers can remain similar to his playoff averages, Minnesota’s offense will undoubtedly reach another level. That’s a big if, regardless, Randle’s ability to create shots for himself is a massive advantage for the Wolves. 

Randle is a capable isolation scorer. However, he truly thrives in the post, either abusing mismatches or using his elite fadeaway to score over bigger defenders. Impressively, Randle scored 1.09 per post-up and boasted a 52.9 effective field goal percentage on fadeways, which ranked eighth in the league. This gives the Wolves an efficient source of offense. 

Randle holds the keys to the Wolves' title hopes

Randle’s ability to create shots for himself and take advantage of mismatches is especially valuable in the playoffs when matchup hunting becomes prevalent. We saw how effective Randle was in the playoffs, especially against the smaller Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers squads.

After back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances, the Wolves are eyeing a title jump. The Wolves made their belief in this core, including Randle, clear during the offseason. Randle’s shot creation makes him well-suited to be a second option on a championship team. 

Minnesota knows what to expect from Edwards, and Randle was also highly impactful in the playoffs. For the Wolves to get over the hump, Randle will need to provide consistent production. Luckily, Randle’s playstyle and scoring prowess make him suited for playoff success, as we saw this past season.