How Julius Randle Could Take Anthony Edwards, Wolves to New Heights

On By Littum

Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle have led the Wovles to a 4-3 start this season.

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CHICAGO – One of the angles in the NBA last season was Anthony Edwards as a kind of mythical offspring or the return of Michael Jordan. A few innocent observations about facial and athletic similarities quickly blew into burning questions about how quickly the Minnesota Timberwolves’ shooting guard could become a legitimate Kia MVP candidate, a “face of the league” and, sooner rather than later, a champion.

What wasn’t asked, however, was this: If Edwards can be this millennium’s “Jordan,” who on this Timberwolves team will be his “Scottie Pippen?” For “Ant” to really be like Mike, someone had to be like Scottie.

(Please know that we’re not looking for a literal interpretation of Pippen, a Hall of Famer and one of the most versatile performers and tenacious defenders in NBA history. The question is just who will be the Robin to Edwards’ Batman?)

After trading away Karl-Anthony Towns to New York, all eyes are on the acquisition they got in return: Julius Randle. The spotlight turns to Chicago tonight (8 ET, NBA TV), as the Wolves hope to kick-start a winning streak.

“I’ll let you guys put the expectations out there,” Randle told NBA.com after a recent practice at the Wolves facility in downtown Minneapolis. “I just told him from Day 1 that I’m here to help him. He’s a special, special talent. An incredible player. He’s so young and he’s got so much that he can continue to be better.”

It would certainly be insensitive for Randle to nominate himself for the role. He’s the new guy on a skilled team, eager to fit in and just help out. He doesn’t have the defensive chops to hang with Edwards like the Bulls’ anywhere-on-the-floor stoppers were.

‘It’s been fantastic from the start’

Randle has some “point forward” skills, and still a few weeks shy of his 30th birthday (Nov. 29), Randle is in or near his prime. He has a coach in Chris Finch that he fully respects and responds to, dating back to the single 2018-19 season they shared in New Orleans, when the 6-foot-8, 250-pound Randle was still finding his way through league and Finch was Alvin Gentry’s offensive coordinator with the Pelicans.

“He’s the same player as far as his ability,” Finch said before the Wolves met Dallas last week in a Western Conference finals rematch. “He’s got a bit better idea of ​​what he’s got to do. A lot of young players put their heads down and go. He’s certainly got the confidence and maturity of someone who’s done a lot.

“When we had him in New Orleans, it was a contract year. Like many other young players, he was worried about his future. Now he has proven who he is. Very mature and willing to do anything to win right now.”

Comfortable on the brink of training camp that Finch appreciated Randle’s game and knew how to deploy him, Tim Connelly, Minnesota’s president of basketball operations, pushed the button that sent Towns to New York for Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo.

The team had just spent the better part of two seasons melding perennial Kia defender Rudy Gobert to Towns in an ambitious “Twin Towers” lineup. The process had been filled with doubt, teasing and frustration until it fully clicked last spring and carried the Wolves to the West finals.

It matched the longest postseason run in franchise history. Their 56 regular season wins were their second most (58 in 2003–04). Towns’ work as a 3-point capable power forward earned him his fourth All-Star appearance. Gobert won his fourth DPOY. Edwards burst across the NBA sky. And Finch landed third in the Coach of the Year vote.

Blowing up that combo while seemingly hitting their stride felt, well, a little impulsive. Or driven by salary, cap management and luxury tax implications rather than what the team had done and could still do on the field.

This is where Finch, Randle and their 365 days together in New Orleans came in.

“It’s been great from the beginning,” Randle said. “When the trade happened — other than the shock of it and figuring out our living situation in Minnesota with the move and the kids — as far as the basketball aspect, there was no other coach in the league I wanted to play for than Finch. I love Finch so a lot and trust his abilities so much.”

Imagine being young, taking a new job in an unfamiliar city, but having the comfort of a boss you know from a previous stop.

“I don’t know, we hit it off right away,” Randle said. “He made it easy for me and I had the best year of my career up to that point. I’ve had All-Star (selections) and stuff since then, but I feel like I played my best basketball under him.

“He gave me a lot of opportunities. He put me in big situations. As a young player, he really built my confidence. … He’s been a real essential.”

Wolves, Randle trying to match up

Injuries and some criticism for who or what he wasn’t had stuck with Randle with previous teams. The Lakers drafted him with the No. 7 in 2014 but was unsuccessful, then waived his contract rights to clear space for LeBron James in 2018. Randle signed a one-year contract with the Pelicans, flourished with Finch’s guidance, developed a 3-point game and won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2021.

From there it was on to New York, where he established himself as an All-Star in 2021, ’23 and ’24 until a shoulder injury shut him down midway through last season.

Finch quickly brought up Randle’s value to the Minnesota media and fans, emphasizing his ability on the perimeter and in the open court to complement his old-school, back-to-the-basket game.

Said Randle: “I’ve always believed in being inside out. I know the game is going to more 3-pointers, but my bread and butter has always been being able to get to the rim. Dominating the paint.

“As the years have gone on, I’ve been able to develop to where I can shoot outside jump shots and 3-pointers. But that’s not what I trust. Just knowing who I am and playing to my strengths usually opens up the rest of my game.”

At 4-3, the Wolves are adjusting to their new personnel and rotations. Their defensive ranking has dropped from no. 1 last season to no. 12, their net rating from 6.3 to 2.5.

However, Randle has delivered as expected. With 21.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 4.7 apg, he is at or above most of his career numbers. And at 46.4% from the arc, he — and DiVincenzo, and with Edwards looking for more 3-pointers — has made up for Towns’ missed 3-pointers.

It took a game and Randle’s tentative play in the opener against the Lakers in LA before the Wolves figured out how best to blend their ways with the new guys.

“We told him after game one,” Finch said, “”You do your thing and we’ll fit in around you. We need to see you do your thing and get comfortable with what it is.’ He spent most of the preseason and certainly the first game against the Lakers kind of trying to “postpone, postpone.”

“He’s at the point now where he’s going to play right 90% of the time. So we trust him. ‘Just do your thing and we’ll figure it out. We’ll play off you and as we go, find we an equilibrium.”

Randle ready to make his mark

Edwards and the others have assured Randle he doesn’t have to worry about stepping on toes stylistically or ball-centrically. His usage rate so far is 24.3, down from the 29.0 he posted in five Knicks seasons but better than his Lakers years.

Said veteran point guard Mike Conley: “Julius is a great guy to get aggressive downhill as well as Ant. Jayden gets easier looks. Rudy does what he does and I do what I do, but guys just gotta keep going to play with that aggression.”

Randle has said the right things about Minnesota, sounds generally at peace and is eager to make a sustained postseason run after making just two appearances with New York. After playing 648 regular season games and 15 playoff games, he wants to improve that ratio and perform a bit better (17.1 ppg, 34.4% shooting) in the postseason.

“I’m a Texas boy from Dallas, so I’m used to having a lot of space,” he said of Minnesota’s outdoor setting. “Just being able to drive places and get your four seasons – it’s autumn and it’s beautiful right now. It gets cold, I know, but I’m just used to simplicity.”

As for giving Edwards an All-Star sidekick, Randle knows it would be heresy to drop the Pippen name or self-nominate. This Minnesota roster isn’t built like these Bulls teams — No. 1 and no. 2 surrounded by a capable supporting cast. It’s much more of an ensemble around Edwards, who will either prove he’s ready at age 23 to carry an NBA team to the conference finals and beyond, or demonstrate he’s not.

“I’m just here to help him, try to maximize his talent and make the game easier for him,” Randle said. “Because he already does it for me.”

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Steve Aschburner has been writing about the NBA since 1980. You can email him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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