In his first chat with the media as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Julius Randle did not hold back from sharing his initial reactions. After finding out the news about the trade, Randle’s wife Kendra Shaw reminded him that things could always be worse.
“My wife was actually saying it could be a lot worse, I’m not going to throw any shots out here but it could be worse,” said Randle.
Randle didn’t mean anything malicious by the comments and he was simply pointing out how lucky he is to move from one contender to the next. Still, hearing “it could be worse” from the player you just traded your star for is not a great sign.
The statement lacks enthusiasm and some fans have taken it to mean that Randle isn’t particularly moved by the trade. Some claim that Randle would have rather stayed with the Knicks to play with Jalen Brunson.
Only Randle knows how he feels after the deal, but it’s no secret that the Timberwolves have been an afterthought when it comes to luring star talent. Located in the northern city of Minneapolis, the Timberwolves are a team that’s had to add talent rather than attract them and plenty of their own, home-grown prospects have left for more lucrative locations.
Karl-Anthony Towns was one of the few stars who was not only loyal to the Timberwolves but actively embraced his place there as a leader and star for the franchise. Despite their lack of playoff success, he was happy to give them his best years and had visions of leading them on a championship run alongside Anthony Edwards.
Now, he’s going to need time to adjust to his new surroundings in New York while Julius Randle takes his place in Minnesota. Randle, 29, has been on various teams over the years — both big and small market franchises. He started with the Lakers in 2014 before being traded to the Pelicans and then signing with the Knicks. It was in New York that he hit his peak as a player with averages of 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, but it wasn’t enough to keep him from the trade block.
Going into this new season, Randle will take on a completely new role for the Timberwolves. It’s Anthony Edwards’ team all the way and the entire offense will center around his game. Randle, who has played second-fiddle before, will have to take on the sidekick role again if he wants to maximize his time with his new franchise.
All-in-all, while it’s not the scenario Randle was hoping for, it’s not a bad situation at all. At 29 years old, Julius has the chance for a clean slate with one of the best teams in the West. He’ll get to play alongside the most electrifying young star in the league, Anthony Edwards. In the meantime, he’ll be suiting up for a team and a fanbase that is rooting for his success in every single game.
So while trades are never easy for players to handle, Julius has been through this before and he knows how to make the process easier for everyone. Now it’s time for Julius to get to work and prove that success for him is not dependent on the team he’s playing for.
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