The Minnesota Timberwolves are exploring potential trades for Julius Randle, though there are several reasons to doubt this will happen before the February 6 trade deadline. One reason is that Timberwolves’ coach Chris Finch has been consistent in his support of Randle, suggesting that the team might be more focused on making things work with him than trading him. Additionally, many of the mock trades circulating might not actually improve the Timberwolves’ roster, raising doubts about their practicality. However, given the resourcefulness of Tim Connelly, it’s still possible that a trade involving Randle could occur unexpectedly.
One recent mock trade proposed by NBA podcaster Bill Simmons involves a three-team deal where the Timberwolves would receive Khris Middleton from the Milwaukee Bucks. In exchange, Tobias Harris would go to the Bucks, and the Detroit Pistons would acquire Randle. While this trade doesn’t involve picks, it does raise questions about its potential impact. Middleton, who is three years older than Randle and has had some injury struggles, might not bring more to the Timberwolves than Randle would, especially given that Randle has more physical advantages. This trade doesn’t seem to benefit Minnesota in a significant way and feels like a deal that Timberwolves’ management would reject.
In conclusion, this trade proposal doesn’t seem likely, and the real beneficiary appears to be the Detroit Pistons. Based on the trade’s potential impact, it would likely receive a grade of D.
