Julius Randle’s Trade Value Hits a Wall — Here’s Why Minnesota’s All-Star Hunt Is Stalling

When the Timberwolves pulled off that blockbuster Karl-Anthony Towns trade before the 2024-25 season, the deal for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo felt like a calculated gamble. A year and change later that gamble has delivered mixed results — and now Minnesota is reportedly exploring ways to flip Randle for a bigger star. But the path forward is anything but clear.

The Problem With the Package

According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, rival scouts believe the Wolves are open to packaging Randle, DiVincenzo, and the No. 28 pick in this year’s draft for a second All-Star to pair with Anthony Edwards. It sounds good on paper. In practice, the shopping list is more wishful than realistic.

“Many rival scouts have pointed to Julius Randle being packaged with DiVincenzo and the 28th pick for an established All-Star-like talent to pair with Edwards, but the Wolves’ primary targets like Giannis, Kawhi Leonard, and Kyrie Irving don’t appear to be plausible options at the moment,” Siegel reported. Minnesota has reportedly been told they’re no longer in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, while Leonard and Irving aren’t believed to be available at all.

Randle’s Roller-Coaster Season

To be fair, Randle wasn’t a disappointment in Minnesota. In 79 games this past season, he averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5 assists. When Edwards went down with an injury during the first-round series against Denver, Randle stepped up as the primary option and helped the Wolves pull off the upset in six games. But the highs came with a steep drop-off: against the Spurs in the second round, Randle scored just three points in the series-clinching Game 6 loss. The inconsistency has reportedly given front offices around the league pause.

Why It Matters

The Western Conference is a meat grinder. The Wolves have made two Western Conference Finals appearances in the last three years but couldn’t close the deal, losing to the eventual conference champion each time. Upgrading next to Edwards is essential if Minnesota wants to finally get over that hump. But with their top targets off the board — and Randle’s value perhaps at a low after that Spurs series — the front office may have to get creative or pivot to a different tier of player entirely.

For now, the rumor mill has cooled. But with the draft approaching and teams reshuffling their rosters, Minnesota’s phone isn’t likely to stay quiet for long.