The Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks recently executed a significant trade, swapping Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle, raising concerns about Randle’s health as the regular season approaches. On the Hoop Collective Podcast, Tim Bontemps shared his initial worries regarding Randle’s condition.
Bontemps noted, “I found it intriguing.” He mentioned texting Dave McMenamin before a game when he saw Randle wasn’t starting. Bontemps asked if the Timberwolves had provided any reasons for Randle’s absence. McMenamin sent a clip of Randle at a media event.
When McMenamin inquired about Randle’s potential participation in preseason games, Randle laughed and said, “I’m just worried about trying to find a house.” Bontemps found this nonchalant response concerning, especially since Randle recently underwent shoulder surgery that kept him out since January.
Since his season-ending surgery in April, Randle has not publicly engaged in any basketball activities. While the Timberwolves may have insights about Randle’s injury that the public lacks, the vague response regarding his health is unsettling.
Will Julius Randle be fit for the Timberwolves’ season?
Randle finds himself in a familiar situation with the Timberwolves, joining a roster featuring an elite guard, a rim-protecting center, and several reliable role players. However, the Timberwolves have not had a player like Randle before, often relying on a two-center lineup that sometimes felt mismatched. Despite the inside-out dynamics of Towns and Rudy Gobert, the setup could appear clunky at times.
Randle brings similar physicality but also serves as a genuine ball-handler at the power forward position, enhancing playmaking. His ability to handle the ball may allow Anthony Edwards to play more freely. If Randle is healthy, he could seamlessly integrate into the power forward role alongside Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.
With Randle, the revamped Timberwolves can maintain their inside-out strategy while adding a layer of ball-handling. Until Randle is officially cleared to play, questions about his health will persist, leading to ongoing speculation about the former Knicks forward’s future.
