What happens in the next few weeks will ultimately play a part in determining what the future direction of this Minnesota Timberwolves team ends up being. The trade deadline is on February 6, and the choices the Wolves make leading up to that date will shape their road ahead, including what they plan on doing this summer.
Of course the acquisition of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in the last week of September massively changed the equation for this organization. Since then, it has been about figuring out this roster and making the best determinations possible when it comes to who should be sticking around in the Twin Cities long-term, and who should be on their way out the door.
If we're being honest, things have certainly looked shaky ever since the problem of trying to incorporate Randle into the starting lineup presented itself. If you were looking for a sign that he will be a great long-term fit with this team, you are probably still searching for it.
With that in mind, Randle's player option for next season becomes the topic at hand. All season, viewers have been doing a cost-benefit analysis of the idea of trading Julius at the deadline. Now, it is seeming more and more like the best choice this team could make would be to go ahead and get a deal done instead of wait for the offseason.
Randle opting in this summer would mean saying goodbye to others
The primary reason behind this thinking being that Randle potentially opting in would put the front office in a crunch. Should he choose to play with the Timberwolves next season, the financials involved would likely mean one of Naz Reid or Nickeil Alexander-Walker would have to go, no matter how badly Minnesota wanted to keep them.
If you recall, the whole purpose of the Wolves dealing away Karl-Anthony Towns was so that they did not have to ultimately deconstruct their roster at a later date and lose players like Reid and Alexander-Walker. They sacrificed a starter in favor of retaining depth and not losing key players from the bench.
If Randle opts in and the Timberwolves lose Naz or Nickeil, Minnesota would have effectively dealt KAT away for nothing. That is the biggest reason why it now feels like setting up a Randle trade at the deadline feels like a necessity.
In my view, you do not even have to worry about fleecing another team and getting back a super high-level player in return. Naz Reid has been waiting for his opportunity, and getting maybe an ancillary piece plus some draft picks back in return would be a win at this point.