It seems to me that Julius Randle is one of the most disrespected players in the NBA. Despite being a gifted offensive player and an ideal co-star next to Anthony Edwards, people too often focus on Randle's downsides; maybe that's just the nature of social media.
Listen, Randle's defense is problematic, and sometimes he makes questionable decisions. However, he is still undoubtedly an incredibly valuable player, and his offensive skill set complements Edwards and uplifts the Minnesota Timberwolves overall.
For whatever reason, the many positive aspects of Randle's game never seem to get discussed -- at least not enough. I'm here to change that.
Randle uplifts Edwards and the Wolves as a whole
Randle's shot creation and playmaking really stand out to me. Undoubtedly, these are two essential skills next to Edwards, and this makes the two an awesome duo.
The Kentucky product is a fantastic isolation scorer who punishes mismatches at will. Randle ranks 13th in isolation points per game, and he scores an impressive 1.05 points per isolation play. He is also an incredible downhill driver who uses his handles and strength to get easy shots at the rim.
Julius Randle's downhill driving bag epitomized right here pic.twitter.com/x2zkyXRaTl
— Jonah (@Huncho_Jman) January 4, 2026
With his bruising strength and ability to create for himself, Randle is especially dangerous against smaller teams. In any matchup, though, having such an elite self-creator is a game-changer, for the Wolves and especially Ant, as he receives immense pressure from opposing defenses.
The Wolves' lack of point guard play is a clear problem, and it has been discussed ad nauseam. However, Randle's playmaking abilities cover up this flaw. His 5.7 assists lead the team, and he initiates a good amount of the Wolves' offense as a point forward. Randle excels as a drive-and-kick passer, which opens up a ton of good looks for the Wolves' shooters, including Edwards. His playmaking also allows him to be used as a high-post playmaker, which unlocks an extra layer of versatility in the Wolves' offense.
This blend of elite creation and high-quality secondary playmaking makes Randle an ideal co-star to Edwards. We saw just how much Edwards benefits from Randle in the first two rounds of the playoffs last year. Once the playoffs roll around in April, Minnesota's Randle advantage might set up another deep run.
In addition to taking some of the offensive burdens off Edwards, Randle allows the Timberwolves to maintain a quality offense when Ant is off the floor. Shockingly, with Randle on the court, the Wolves have an absurd 125.9 offensive rating per Cleaning the Glass. Maintaining such a high level of offense without your star is a true luxury for the Wolves.
It's not a coincidence that the Wolves' offense is a staggering 13.6 points per 100 possessions better with Randle on the court, a number that ranks in the 99th percentile per Cleaning the Glass.
With the trade deadline less than a month away, I'm sure there will be plenty of rumors centered around trading Randle for a star guard. I get that the Wolves need a PG, and they have a logjam in the frontcourt. However, I would be extremely hesitant to trade Randle unless you are trading for a player who is clearly better than him (which is unlikely).
We've seen how much Randle benefits Edwards and the Wolves overall; that's something you should not mess with. The grass isn't always greener on the outside, especially with the names who are available on the trade market.