As the NBA trade deadline approaches, there are echoes of potential deals happening for several teams around the association. But one team that does not seem to be on the doorstep of making some sort of blockbuster trade? The Minnesota Timberwolves.
Yes, Julius Randle has been a clunky fit with the Wolves' roster. But the team has shown no imminent desire to move him ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline. If anything, an offseason deal would be much more likely. In the meantime, there have been extensive indicators out of the organization that they like what they have in Julius and want to continue to find ways to win basketball games with him as part of their equation.
While they do that, other storylines around the league continue to evolve. The Miami Heat are in the middle of some major drama surrounding Jimmy Butler, and they recently suspended their franchise star for an indefinite period of time.
It seems likely that Butler has played his last game for the organization. And in the midst of what seem like Jimmy's final days in Miami, it has been revealed that the Heat are keeping an eye on Julius Randle as a potential trade target.
The Miami Heat have kept Julius Randle on their radar
According to Ian Begley, an NBA insider for SNY, Randle "has remained on the Heat's radar during the Butler saga." If Miami is truly going to lose Butler, then it makes sense that they would be looking around the league at other established players that could begin to fill Jimmy's production if and when he does leave.
At the end of the day, all this tells us for certain is that the Heat like what they see in Randle. It does not indicate at all that the Timberwolves are angling toward reversing their current stance of keeping Julius around for a playoff run this season.
We know due to the nature of Tim Connelly's business dealings that we can never totally rule out him pulling something out of his back pocket ahead of the trade deadline. But at the same time, if Minnesota does make a move before Feb. 6, it would likely be to assist in facilitating a Butler deal or something of the like, while making minimal changes to their own roster.
This report makes it clear that the Miami Heat continue to be interested in Julius Randle. But the odds he gets moved in the next 10 days remains slim.