Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves saw their season come to an end after a 124-94 loss in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. The desultory result leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the Wolves organization, considering it is their second consecutive WCF loss, but more so for Randle as he contemplates his future with the team.
Randle joined the Wolves this season after a blockbuster deal saw him and Karl-Anthony Towns trade places. While several people doubted how this trade would turn out, both Minnesota and New York seem to have benefited from this trade.
Unfortunately, Minnesota’s playoff run came up short against the Oklahoma City Thunder, facing a 4-1 loss in the series. After a rather inconsistent performance by Randle for the series, his future with the team has been brought into question.
As things stand, the forward can choose to opt in to his deal and return on a $30.9 million deal to play out the 2026-27 season. But should he choose to opt out, the 30-year-old may enjoy testing free agency.
Given his value to the team, it is unlikely that the Wolves would let Randle walk out for nothing in return. Hence, a sign-and-trade would be on the cards. However, should Randle choose to compete for a championship, a team that may benefit from acquiring someone of his talents would be the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons were already linked to Wolves forward Naz Reid in case he opted out of his contract to test free agency. Should Randle do the same, Detroit would certainly go after the Wolves’ star given his value.
With this in mind, we take a look at a potential trade package to allow the Pistons to acquire Julius Randle via sign-and-trade.
Proposed Trade Details
Detroit Pistons Receive: Julius Randle
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Ronald Holland II, Isaiah Stewart, 2026 first-round pick
The notion of Randle joining the Pistons is exciting. The sheer potential on Detroit’s roster presents an interesting future with a veteran star like Randle in their frontcourt.
With Isaiah Stewart on the way out, the Pistons are likely to see Randle become the focal point in the frontcourt rotation as their power forward. The pairing of Jalen Duren and Randle could be formidable for any interior defense. The athleticism boasted by both players provides Pistons star Cade Cunningham with enough opportunities to create scoring options for his team.
The Wolves forward recorded an average of 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists during the 2024-25 regular season. Randle’s ability to score from three levels makes him a versatile second option. His shooting splits of 48.5% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc help improve the Pistons a lot of offensive integrity.
This trade also helps the Pistons improve their roster strength. Considering that Ausar Thompson holds onto his place in the starting rotation for his defensive presence, Detroit is likely to see Tobias Harris head to the bench. Harris’ averages of 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds are likely to see a massive boost against opposing second units, thus helping the Pistons improve their overall offensive output as well.
The Pistons notched their first playoff win since 2008 this season. Making the playoffs was also a sign of changing times, as a proud franchise found its way back to the limelight.
Considering the trajectory the team is on, they will look to sign key veterans to help improve their chances of making a deep playoff run. Led by Cunningham, who has aspirations of taking over the league, Detroit would benefit from acquiring a piece like Randle to aid their development.
For Minnesota, the trade allows them to shed a lot of salary, freeing up some cap space. The 2026 first-round pick will be of immense benefit when developing a roster around Anthony Edwards.
While Holland offers little in terms of contribution, Stewart could be the bruiser the Timberwolves need on their roster. While he is an undersized center, the big man provides a lot of physicality, a trait that Minnesota was lacking in their matchup against OKC.
While these players may not help them win by their contributions on the court, the Wolves would certainly look to build a competent roster with the cap space available to them.
