Minnesota Timberwolves fans are ready for Julius Randle to find a new home this offseason. He proved that he isn't a championship-level second option, averaging just 12.8 points, on 34.2 percent shooting from the field and 19 percent from 3-point range, in the second-round against the San Antonio Spurs.
After such a subpar series, it's fair to wonder what exactly Randle's trade value is, especially as he's 31 years old. Plus, his bully-ball style of play makes him a tough fit with most teams around the league. While the Wolves want to use Randle as the centerpiece of a deal to give Anthony Edwards a legitimate second option, this might prove easier said than done.
Luckily, Randle's contract offers some hope that a move that gives the Wolves a desirable return isn't out of the picture. Last offseason, Randle earned a three-year, $100 million deal. Randle is set to make $33.3 million next season, which will make him the league's 54th-highest-paid player.
Say what you will about Randle, but this isn't a terrible or untradeable contract, especially given that he only has two years left. Whether Randle is packaged with other players and possibly some future assets or used as a one-for-one swap, it's reasonable to suggest that he'll have some market, which is great news for Wolves fans.
Possible options for the Timberwolves in a Julius Randle trade
The Timberwolves will be chasing top-tier stars this offseason, most notably, Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Kawhi Leonard also seems like a possibility.
Randle would likely have to be included in either of these possible deals. And despite his lackluster playoffs, it's fair to expect the Los Angeles Clippers or Milwaukee Bucks would be okay with taking him on, along with other players/picks. A key reason for this is due to his contract. However, it's also worth noting that neither team owns the majority of their future picks, meaning they could benefit from a regular season floor raiser like Randle.
Jaden McDaniels would likely have to be included in a deal for Giannis, while Rudy Gobert could be enough in a Kawhi deal. The possibility of a three-team deal for either player feels likely.
While the Wolves will presumably start by shooting for the top stars, it's possible (perhaps even likely) that they have to fall back to a smaller deal with Randle as a centerpiece.
Pursuing swaps for players, such as Tyler Herro, Dejounte Murray, Jalen Green, or Kyrie Irving, could be worthwhile for the Wolves. Again, some of these deals might take a third team and/or more assets (especially in the case of Kyrie).
Regardless, the point is that Randle's trade value shouldn't be so low to rule out trading him for another flawed star-level player, and a big piece of that is his contract.
Add us as a preferred source on Google