With all due respect, Julius Randle is primed to be traded this offseason. It's just a matter of where he goes and what the Minnesota Timberwolves can get for him. The vast majority of Wolves fans are hoping to flip Randle for a legitimate co-star alongside Anthony Edwards. However, a two-for-one depth trade might be more realistic for Minnesota.
The playoffs were such a disaster on both sides of the ball for Randle that it's fair to question his trade value. Furthermore, his heliocentric playstyle makes him a tricky fit on many teams. I'm not saying that Randle will have no trade value; he is still a talented player who can raise the floor of any offense. Still, landing a genuine co-star in a trade for Randle might not happen.
In the modern NBA, depth is equally as important as star power. Look at the three remaining playoff teams -- they all have a ton of depth. Therefore, a two-for-one trade might work in the Wolves' favor.
Nevertheless, given that the Wolves are eyeing a star move, if Randle is traded in a depth-centric trade, it would be a unique path.
Possible depth-centric trades for Randle
One popular idea for a two-for-one Randle trade that has been floated around social media and podcasts is a deal with the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale.
At the surface level, this isn't an ideal return for Randle, but I think this is an intriguing option for Minnesota, as both Allen and O'Neale are great role players.
Allen would thrive in a Donte DiVincenzo-like role, while O'Neale would give the Wolves some much-needed extra defense. Additionally, this trade would help the Wolves save $4.3 million in cap space. The Suns could benefit from extra creation and playmaking next to Devin Booker, and they specifically lack a bruising power forward.
Another possible trade I'd advocate for is Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall for Randle. Now, it's unclear how favorably the Mavericks would view Randle's fit alongside Cooper Flagg, but it's not out of the question that they'd be interested in him.
If the Wolves can't land Kyrie Irving, Gafford, and Marshall would be an interesting package from Dallas. Gafford would be an ideal big man if the Wolves also want to trade Rudy Gobert, while Marshall is a fantastic complementary wing. Caleb Martin could be a backup option if I'm overestimating Randle's value.
There are likely other two-for-one or depth-based Randle trades; these are just two possible examples. The point is that this might be Randle's market rather than a star-based swap.
The Timberwolves could still flip Gobert for a star-level player
Even if the Wolves can't trade Randle for a star, their hopes of landing a second option alongside Ant wouldn't be totally crushed. In reality, I think Gobert will register a wider trade market given his elite defense.
Now, the Wolves aren't likely to trade Gobert for a top-tier star. However, could they trade him for someone like Dejounte Murray? I don't see why not.
Would adding a player such as Murray alongside a team with more depth be enough to deliver the Timberwolves a championship? I'm not sure, but I do think they would improve their chances.
If the Wolves strike out on trading for a high-end star such as Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kawhi Leonard, I think their best path is to make one star-based trade and one depth-based trade.
At the end of the day, Minnesota's best path to accomplishing this goal might be trading Randle for depth and Gobert for a star-level player.
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