Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle has a $30.9 million player option and could become a free agent this summer. All signs point to Randle re-signing with the Wolves. This was all but confirmed after Chris Finch said he absolutely expects Randle and Naz Reid to return. However, it's unclear if Randle will accept or decline his player option. From there, it's also unclear how much money and how many years the Wolves will be willing to commit to Randle.
Re-signing Randle is logical
On one hand, it's clear why it's crucial to bring Randle back. He is a much-needed secondary creator next to Anthony Edwards. With Kevin Durant likely out of the picture, the Wolves don't have a clear plan to replace Randle. For the Wolves to maximize their title chances, re-signing Randle is an obvious move.
In the playoffs, Randle averaged 21.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on 50.2/38.5/88 shooting splits. This was an increase from his regular-season average of 18.7 points. Randle was especially vital in the first two rounds of the playoffs. There's a realistic pathway to the Wolves winning a title with Randle as their second option. While it's clear why they need to re-sign Randle, his value is diffcult to gauge.
Randle's value is unclear
The biggest problem with Randle is his inconsistency, which was on display during the Western Conference Finals. Randle is always a skilled shot creator, but his decision-making is questionable at times, both in terms of playmaking and shot selection. Furthermore, Randle's defensive effort is also shaky at times.
His shooting is crucial given that Edwards needs spacing to be at his best. While Randle shot 38.5 percent from beyond the arc, he only shot 34.4 percent from 3 in the regular season and is a career 33.4 percent 3-point shooter. What production the Wolves get from Randle as a shooter will be key in determining the success of this duo.
At 30 years old, it becomes even more diffcult to figure out what Randle's value is. Additionally, the Wolves already have a high payroll and will have to commit a hefty contract to Reid. Randle is eligible for a four-year $181 million deal. It's highly unlikely he'll get the full amount.
Whether Randle opts in or out of his deal, one interesting offer could be a three-year $110 million contract. This would give Randle a higher salary than his previous deal without hampering the Wolves' long-term. Give or take, this feels like an appropriate range for Randle, especially accounting for the dreaded second apron.
Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus predicted that Randle will opt into his contract, but the Wolves won't offer him an extension. In my eyes, this doesn't seem realistic as the Wolves wouldn't want Randle's free agency to loom over them for another season. Moreover, Randle is talented enough to receive a fairly sizable contract.
However, if the Wolves want something more short-term, a two-year contract worth around $70-75 million is an intriguing option. Ultimately, the Wolves are in a difficult spot financially, and it will be interesting to see how they handle this Randle situation in the coming weeks.